Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 13781

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Re: withdrawal

Posted by ronda on January 24, 2001, at 16:34:29

In reply to Re: withdrawal, posted by Janey on April 18, 2000, at 17:59:12

I hope this helps everyone who is experiencing withdrawal
because it helped me. I was one effexor for about
7 months and began to wean myself off of it because
I was just too numb. No sex drive, tired, no
emotions. Don't get me wrong, effexor made me feel
a lot better, I just didn't like the side effects.
Anyway, while trying to wean myself off of this
drug, which by the way was MURDER, somehow I caught
a cold. Anyway, you could imagine the pain I was
going thru trying to wean myself off of this medicine
I mean guys, I thought I was going crazy and would
die, I took some Theraflu (nighttime formula). In
less than 10 minutes, and I am not kidding, all of
the dizziness, headaches, swimming of my head,
sweatiness, went away. I didn't know what the hell
was going on. Well, I took the theraflu and Niquil
for about a week, and that was it. No withdrawal
no nothing. Now, I don't know if this will work
for you guys, but it worked for me. I don't know
why cold medicine worked, but it did. I asked my
doctor, and she said she didn't have an answer.
Anyway, I thought I'd let you guys know. I know
how withdrawal is, and I know I would have done
anything to make it stop. If anyone tries this,
let me know if it worked. Good luck.
Ronda

Re: withdrawal

Posted by Kara on January 25, 2001, at 9:00:30

In reply to Re: withdrawal, posted by ronda on January 24, 2001, at 16:34:29

Well I have decided to get myself off this drug all together. Today is my second day off this med, I am quitting 150mg of Effexor XR. I feel
light headed, numb and my stomache is killing me. I am starting to think that I am making the wrong decision of going cold turkey. I dont want to give in to taking a pill to stop this state that my body is in. It is definately worse than yesterday. Any suggestions?

Re: withdrawal

Posted by NMichele on January 25, 2001, at 9:48:44

In reply to Re: withdrawal, posted by Kara on January 25, 2001, at 9:00:30

> I am on my third and final week of coming off of Effexor. I have taken 150mg for 2 years. Other than a few days of light anxiety I have not felt anything unusual. I did feel for a day or two like I had the flu but my doctor said to expect that. I would suggest that you do it gradually. It will be so much easier for you that way. The first week I was to take 105mg. The second week 75mg and the third 35.5. So far so good. Maybe this will help for you too!! Good luck!!

I AM NOT GIVING INTO TAKING ANOTHER PILL!

Posted by Kara on January 25, 2001, at 17:14:54

In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14

Well, I posted a message this morning when I arrived at work about myself going cold turkey. I am starting to think that I have made a terrible mistake. Why, well I feel like a walking/stumbling zombie. My eyes are killing me and they take a couple of seconds to catch up with my brain. I have not felt like this before and I wouldnt wish it upon anyone! I dont even think that I am fit to drive myself home, I just want to crawl into my bed and sleep this off. But this is only 48 hours since my last dose and it only seems to be getting worse. I will see how I feel tomorrow, the way that this is going right now the outlook doesnt look so good. I dont think that I will be able to make it to work tomorrow, the way my body is reacting right now is scary and I dont know what to do. I AM NOT GIVING INTO TAKING ANOTHER PILL! I hate myself for ever putting myself on this med and I hate the doctor that said that it is a great pill and not addictive and that is ABSOLUTE B.S.! Now I see how it is for a drug addict to go through withdrawl. This is drug addiction and I hope you all realize that your problem is not only depression/anxiety, now you can add drug addiction to your list. Best of luck to all of you trying to get off this drug and take this as a sincere warning to anyone thinking about taking Effexor XR. Please email me your comments or suggestions to Karap@tommel.tzo.com

Effexor is very different from SSRIs Try a combina

Posted by Janus on January 26, 2001, at 4:40:00

In reply to I AM NOT GIVING INTO TAKING ANOTHER PILL! , posted by Kara on January 25, 2001, at 17:14:54

I have been on effexor retard for one year and i have tried literally avery available antidepressant exept tricyclycs. Yes even nonreversible monoamioxidaseinhibitors.
Effexor has been the only one that has really keeped on working. Every other either stopped working after 3-6 months (SSRIs)or did not work at all (MAOinh.)
I have also found that combining efexor with tymelyt (maprotilin) enhances the AD effect. Also combining with Mianserin boosts the effect, but mianserin makes me tired gives me huch wiaght-gain. But mianserin actually boosted more than maprotilin.
So i and my shrink have concluded my depression can best be treated with ADs that address noradrenaline.
Maybe there are two distinctive neurotransmitterdisorders, that relate to either serotonine or noradrenaline and effexor can work wonder for the one but not for the other?
Here are some sideeffect, that bother me. I startefd with 75 mg effexor and that was fine. After 3 months i had to add maprotilin 10-30 mg varying, as the would give an almost immediate relief from what i call "bad mood seizures". However i have recently had to increase the dose of effexor to 150 mg. I dont wan-t get into a more and more addiction, but ill return with further comments in a few months about wether i need more still then.
Another sideeffect, that sets in after some months, is not actual tirednes (SSRIs all made me intollerably tired), but a feeling of being energy-depleted. Like i have difficulty getting myself started. My body feel, like, too heavy to get mooving. But thats all i have to complain about.
I have to take effexor and maprotilin in the morning, because i do not sleep well on them. When i supplemented with mianserin i took minaserin before bed and slept like a log. I have tried replacing meprotillin with Mirtazepin (Remeron) and found that Remeron greatly improves my sleep (no more nightmares! Without Mirtazepin or mianserin i have several nightmares every night, awfull). Mirtazepin makes me very tired if taken in the morning (like all SSRIs do to me).
I also tried boosting effexor with Buspiron, but found buspiron, though an SSRI, does not seem to have an AD effect, It gave a nice soft feeling to the body and mind, though.
I've considered trying Anafranil or some other tricyclic alone or in combination with at first effexor and later maybe som other?
Can anyone relate to this with similar or other experiences?
Janus

Re: tired?, use non-XR » Janus

Posted by MarkinBoston on January 26, 2001, at 13:10:55

In reply to Effexor is very different from SSRIs Try a combina, posted by Janus on January 26, 2001, at 4:40:00

I recently switched from Effexor XR (retard?) to the original, short halflife pills with 2x/day dosing and sleep much better now and don't feel tired anymore. Poor sleep does that.

> I have been on effexor retard for one year and i have tried literally avery available antidepressant exept tricyclycs. Yes even nonreversible monoamioxidaseinhibitors.
>
> Effexor has been the only one that has really keeped on working. Every other either stopped working after 3-6 months (SSRIs)or did not work at all (MAOinh.)
>
> I have also found that combining efexor with tymelyt (maprotilin) enhances the AD effect. Also combining with Mianserin boosts the effect, but mianserin makes me tired gives me huch wiaght-gain. But mianserin actually boosted more than maprotilin.
>
> So i and my shrink have concluded my depression can best be treated with ADs that address noradrenaline.
>
> Maybe there are two distinctive neurotransmitterdisorders, that relate to either serotonine or noradrenaline and effexor can work wonder for the one but not for the other?
>
> Here are some sideeffect, that bother me. I startefd with 75 mg effexor and that was fine. After 3 months i had to add maprotilin 10-30 mg varying, as the would give an almost immediate relief from what i call "bad mood seizures". However i have recently had to increase the dose of effexor to 150 mg. I dont wan-t get into a more and more addiction, but ill return with further comments in a few months about wether i need more still then.
>
> Another sideeffect, that sets in after some months, is not actual tirednes (SSRIs all made me intollerably tired), but a feeling of being energy-depleted. Like i have difficulty getting myself started. My body feel, like, too heavy to get mooving. But thats all i have to complain about.
>
> I have to take effexor and maprotilin in the morning, because i do not sleep well on them. When i supplemented with mianserin i took minaserin before bed and slept like a log. I have tried replacing meprotillin with Mirtazepin (Remeron) and found that Remeron greatly improves my sleep (no more nightmares! Without Mirtazepin or mianserin i have several nightmares every night, awfull). Mirtazepin makes me very tired if taken in the morning (like all SSRIs do to me).
>
> I also tried boosting effexor with Buspiron, but found buspiron, though an SSRI, does not seem to have an AD effect, It gave a nice soft feeling to the body and mind, though.
>
> I've considered trying Anafranil or some other tricyclic alone or in combination with at first effexor and later maybe som other?
>
> Can anyone relate to this with similar or other experiences?
>
> Janus

Withdrawal From Effexor

Posted by JL on January 26, 2001, at 19:18:27

In reply to Re: withdrawal, posted by Stan F. on July 6, 2000, at 23:16:30

This is living Hell! I've been on Effexor for 3 1/2 years - at one point I was on 375 mg/day. Two years ago, the quack that put me on this damn drug tried to change me to Wellbrutrin and had me go off Effexor cold turkey. I ended up in the emergency room due to the severe and sudden withdrawal I went through. The quake WOULD NOT return my call for help and even the emergency room didn't know if it was the Effexor or the Welbrutrin causing the problem. They sent me home, without ANY treatment, because they didn't know what to tell me. After calling everyone on the planet for advise, my primary care physician's on-call doctor told me to take the Effexor immediately and that would solve the problem - it did. The quake psychiatrist didn't call me back until the NEXT DAY! I've since fired that quack and have been seeing a real pyschiatrist for the past year and a half (and have filed formal medical mal-practice charges against to former quake - for the above, and other very serious problems I had with her). At the time I switched to a real doctor, I had been able to SLOOOOWLY get down to 150 mg/day. I've been on that amount for about a year and 1/2 and, since then, with my good doc, SLOWLY got down to 75 mg/day. She wanted to increase the Effexor a few weeks ago for the ongoing depression but, due to the severe withdrawal problems I've had, she agreed to put me on Serzone instead. Since then, I was able to get down to 37.5 mg/day of Effexor with minimal side effects (these do, however, hit me like clock work within 24 hours after taking the previous dose).
This week, we decided to try to take me off completely - here's what happened. Had fairly strong withdrawal problems on Tues., so I took 18.75 mg (1/4 of a pill) that day. Since then, I haven't had any. However, I'm still having nausea, rather severe dizziness, as well as that delightful "space cadet" feeling that seems to be one of those "Effexor things." While it's now been 3 full days since I've taken any Effexor, the withdrawal symptoms remain. Things seem especially bad when I do anything physical. I just called my doc and she said to take a little more Effexor to help reduce the problems, if I wanted to, or to try and suffer it out some more. As I've NEVER gone more than 24 hours, during the past 3 1/2 years I've been on this drug, without taking it, I'm inclined to continue the "cold turkey" routine. (My doc is aware of the withdrawal problems of Effexor.)
The BIG question is, HOW LONG do I have to go through these horrible withdrawal symptoms? My doc wasn't too sure becuase she usually DOESN'T prescribe Effexor, due to problems with it. I just happened to be on it because that's what my original quack had put me on.
I've just seen, elsewhere on the 'net, something about "Serotonin Syndrome" caused by Effexor. Does anyone know about this? So far, I haven't been able to find any information about it, other than this appears to be caused by Effexor.
When I was placed on this awful drug, I was told there were minimal side effects (NOT) and that it wasn't addicting - if Effexor is NOT addicting, then the sky must be green. Have any lawsuits been filed on behalf of people subjected to this horrible drug?
Thanks for your support.

Cold Turkey Attempt....FAILED!

Posted by Kara on January 27, 2001, at 14:46:43

In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14

Well, I went through two HORRIBLE days with out my 150mg of Effexor XR. I
> too had felt like I had a hangover from hell. I couldnt walk without
> holding onto something, actually fell to the floor two times. My eyes feel
> like they are going to explode! Anyway, so I gave in on day three a popped
> a pill, the full amount. I swore that I wasnt going to take another one
> but the way my body was reacting was very,very scary. I am going to call
> my doc on Monday and tell her that I need to get on something else or get
> lower pills to reduce the intake then eventually get off of this drug. I
> cant believe all the posts on this board. Imagine all the people out there
> who have no idea about the withdrawl from this med. They probably think
> they are dying. Doctors have no clue. And if it werent for the board I
> dont know what I would do. My doctor told me that this med is NOT
> addictive and if I had not read this board I would probably be in the
> emergency room thinking that these side effects were from an illness. I
> guess that they are, I hope I can return back to "normal" after
> I get off of this and I hope that there is not permanent damage. Thank you
> to all, who have emailed me and suggested things to me. I wouldnt wish
> this upon anyone and thank you for lending your support. It's just that no
> one knows what I am going through. I cant even explain it to anyone, only
> to the people on this site. Thank you.

Re: Cold Turkey Attempt....FAILED!

Posted by JL on January 28, 2001, at 1:05:26

In reply to Cold Turkey Attempt....FAILED!, posted by Kara on January 27, 2001, at 14:46:43

I just spoke with someone else, tonight, who has only been on Effexor for five months (I don't remember the dosage) and that individual also has the same problems when even a dose is missed.
While I've never been on Effexor SR - just good ole fashioned addicting Effexor for me, I was able to reduce, over a period of many months, from a high of 375 mg/day to 37.5 mg/day before I finally thought I could "JUST SAY NO TO EFFEXOR" (yes, it IS addicting, regardless of what the quacks will have us believe). I've been cold turkey since last Tuesday (I stopped Monday but the withdrawals were so bad I took a small amount on Tuesday) - STILL having EXTREME dizziness, especially when I move, turn my head, or do any type of physical work. I also feel rather disoriented and "spacey." Am having some nausea (which is a bit more tolerable than the dizziness).
While it's still Hell now, it was MUCH worse when I was on a higher dose and landed in ER. Here's what I did to get down to 37.5 mg/day (I would have completely wigged out going cold turkey on 150 mg/day). I would take start taking my dose (let's say 150 mg/day), only once per day (yes, even that would cause problems) but, after about two or three weeks, they would be tolerable. At that point, I would then start taking 1/2 dose (75 mg) in the morning and then the same at night. I would do that for a couple of weeks and then stop taking the morning dose. Naturally, the withdrawal symptoms from this ADDICTING drug would start but, after a few weeks the withdrawal symptoms would be relatively low enough that I would then start the whole process over again (37.5 mg in the A.M., then 37.5 before going to bed) after several weeks of that, I'd again cut out the morning dose. Well, I finally got down to 37.5 mg only once per day and have been trying to go cold turkey every since. The withdrawals are simply horrible but, in comparison to when I landed in ER, I am semi-functional as long as I don't move around too much. I've now been off since Tuesday and am having some of the worse withdrawals I've had in a long time. Even so, I am NOT going to take ANY more of this addicting drug. Considering I've been on this stuff for the past 3 1/2 years, this is the longest, by far, that I've ever gone without taking it. I KNOW I can make it at this point, it's just a matter of how long my body is going to be messed up while going through withdrawals. (FYI, I'm on disability for work related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, so I don't have to deal with working while going through this - there is NO WAY that I could do that!) My biggest worry is driving - while I'm avoiding it at all costs, there are some times where I HAVE to go out. How long does one have to suffer through these withdrawals?!?!?
Anyway, there is no way I could get off the damn drug, cold turkey, at 150 mg/day. You might try cutting back, the way I did (my doc thought it was a good approach), down to a level that is "tolerable" (as far as I'm concerned, NO level of this is "tolerable") - that is, down to the point where you're not going completely nuts, and then go "cold turkey."

Re: Cold Turkey Attempt....FAILED!

Posted by stjames on January 29, 2001, at 0:55:44

In reply to Cold Turkey Attempt....FAILED!, posted by Kara on January 27, 2001, at 14:46:43

Cold turky is a really bad idea. Want problems ?
Go cold turkey ! Please read the tips section on e-groups and archives and take better care of yourself.
James

Re: Withdrawal From Effexor

Posted by dj-1972 on January 30, 2001, at 15:33:00

In reply to Withdrawal From Effexor, posted by JL on January 26, 2001, at 19:18:27

I've only been on effexor XR for about 2 months.
150MG. I'm going off of it because after the first 37.5 dose
I immediately lost all ability to have sex.
I was told that would probably eventually normalize but it didn't.
Then I was told, "Just go down to 75mg per day for
a few days, then you can stop." I was told that I
might feel some flu-like symptoms, but they would pass.
I'm on my 3rd day of being off completely, and today I had
to take another 75mg dose. We'll see if it helps.
I've been completely worthless for 2 days. Feel like there
is some kind of damn fog in my brain, dizzy, lightheaded, can't
sleep. This sure is fun. I'm going to get some smaller doses to
see if that will help to do this more gradually.
In any case, there is a very low level of knowledge about this.
I would recommend everyone to read "Your drug may be
your problem: how and why to stop taking psychiatric medication."
I've only read some of it, and the chapters on withdrawing, but
it has convinced me that you can't count on your doctor
to get you off this, or anything, in the best way.

Re: Withdrawal From Effexor

Posted by dj-1972 on January 30, 2001, at 15:57:04

In reply to Withdrawal From Effexor, posted by JL on January 26, 2001, at 19:18:27

Yeah, the serotonin syndrome thing you talked about is pretty serious,
but not caused specifically by effexor. As I understand it, it can
happen any time you try to take effexor or any SSRI at the same time as
an MAO inhibitor (or up to 14 days after taking an MAO inhibitor). Side
effects are pretty nasty, up to and including death. I read some stuff
in my wife's drug book (she's a nurse) as well as on WebMD.
Bleeding gums, inability to distiguish reality from imagination,
dry mouth, sesuires and convultions, an uncontrollable urge to talk or move,
depression, anxiety, death, and just about any other thing you can name can all result,
so the moral is to never take an MAO inhibitor with an SSRI (or many other
things). MOA inhibitors are pretty serious business.

Re: Anyone take it for pain?

Posted by Kathleen on January 30, 2001, at 23:19:50

In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14

> Hi there,
> Do any of you take Effexor for Pain? Dr. put me on it about 10 months ago for the dopamine effects. I suffer from chronic headaches as in I do not remember what it feels like not to hurt. I have TMJ. I quit taking the effexor 3 days ago and the only side affect I have noticed is crying for no reason. I do not have good insurance and the costs for effexor are out of reach at this moment. I was taking 150 mg. each night before bed. I took elavil for 14 years before trying effexor and the only difference I noticed is that I am not as tired all the time and my mouth is not as dry. Any thoughts on this? Thanks, Kathleen
>

Re: Anyone take it for pain?

Posted by willow on January 31, 2001, at 7:43:21

In reply to Re: Anyone take it for pain? , posted by Kathleen on January 30, 2001, at 23:19:50

Kathleen
Did you find that the Effexor helped? Have you ever checked out a pysiotherapist?
Try keeping a "journal" for the headaches. After awhile you may find a pattern. I personally don't find that Effexor helps for pain. Other ADs have been more effective, but like you mentioned they have side-effects.
What are you using now? I find baclofen helps. I don't need to take it continuously, I can skip some days and once the pain starts coming back I start again.

quitting effexor

Posted by helena on February 1, 2001, at 10:33:10

In reply to effexor and drinking, posted by Jane on April 15, 2000, at 4:01:54

> I started effexor 18 months ago at a very low75 mg/daily dose-it didn't help and following a serious incident of self mutilation "they" increased to 250 xr/day. that was awful! the diahrea lasted almost 2 weeks-but I thought maybe I would lose some of the 30 pounds I had gained being on the drug. I love these docs that tell you what your feeling/gaining (weight)/lossing (sexuality)couldn't possibly be because of the drugs! I think they should have to take them to prescribe them. Thank goodness for the postings-I don't feel so alone and crazy! I am now withdrawing on my own and the dizziness, flu-like feeling and fatigue are terrible. I can't wait for this to be over. can any one tell me how long the head-spinning will last? its been 5 days of no drugs. also wanted to know if anyone has experiences the leg jerks, tremors and leg jitters at night like I did. thanks Helena