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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by rmshed on August 9, 2001, at 19:22:37
I have been on Effexor XR 75 mg for about 9 weeks. The physical side effects have leveled out, but they never go away. The Effexor has really helped with my depression, but not to the extent that I will continue to tolerate feeling physically sick on a daily basis. I know many of you have had withdrawl when going off of Effexor, any advice or suggestion or support will be greatly appreciated. BTW, my side effects have included elevated blood pressure, nausea, fluid retention, bladder leakage, headache, digestive disorders. I am going off of this medication without the help of my doctor, he is on vacation and I refuse to take this medication any longer than I have too.
Thanks in advance.
Becky
Posted by Cam W. on August 9, 2001, at 21:40:48
In reply to Want to get off Effexor XR, posted by rmshed on August 9, 2001, at 19:22:37
Beckie - I seriously wouldn't stop Effexor without the help of your doctor. You are going to need 37.5mg capsules of Effexor to do it properly. Also, you need the doc to monitor your progress coming off of it.
That being said, there are still a few options open to you. Some of those sympton will go away, if your doctor raises your dose to 150mg. The antidepressant/antianxiety effects SSRIs plateau at a certain dosage, whereas the effects of Effexor continue to increase with increasing in dosage. At 75mg, Effexor is acting mainly as an SSRI; at 150mg to 300mg Effexor blocks the reuptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine; and over 450mg (and very slightly at 300mg) dopamine reuptake begins to be blocked.
Perhaps you need to increase the dose, rather than go off of the med. Since your doc is out of town, it is best to keep the status quo. Besides, many people have side effect for 12 to 16 weeks. At the 300mg dose, it felt like I had a ball of fuzzy stuck to the inside left frontal part of my skull, but that just disappeared after 4 months.
Hang in there a while longer, at least until you can talk to your doc who can either help you quit, or increase the dose. The side effects may come back with each dose increase, but they are a little different and do not last as long as this first round.
I hope that this is of some help. - Cam
Posted by T.T. on August 10, 2001, at 0:26:07
In reply to Want to get off Effexor XR, posted by rmshed on August 9, 2001, at 19:22:37
DO NOT TRY TO GET OFF THIS MEDICATION WITHOUT HELP FROM YOUR DOCTOR! I ended up in the hospital due to the withdrawal symptoms associated with discontinuing Effexor. At that time, I suffered from myoclonus (your muscles seize and twitch out of your control). The ER doc said if I would have gone on any longer, my heart (muscle) would have seized. Since then (June 1st), I have tapered down to 37.5 mg every three days. If I don't take it on the third day, I suffer from shock-like feelings through my body, terrible night (and day) sweats, vivid nightmares, dizziness, flu-like syptoms...you name it. Doctors don't tell you when they put you on it that it will be hell getting off of it.
PURE HELL. T.T.
> I have been on Effexor XR 75 mg for about 9 weeks. The physical side effects have leveled out, but they never go away. The Effexor has really helped with my depression, but not to the extent that I will continue to tolerate feeling physically sick on a daily basis. I know many of you have had withdrawl when going off of Effexor, any advice or suggestion or support will be greatly appreciated. BTW, my side effects have included elevated blood pressure, nausea, fluid retention, bladder leakage, headache, digestive disorders. I am going off of this medication without the help of my doctor, he is on vacation and I refuse to take this medication any longer than I have too.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Becky
Posted by rmshed on August 10, 2001, at 8:47:47
In reply to Re: Want to get off Effexor XR » rmshed, posted by Cam W. on August 9, 2001, at 21:40:48
> Beckie - I seriously wouldn't stop Effexor without the help of your doctor. You are going to need 37.5mg capsules of Effexor to do it properly. Also, you need the doc to monitor your progress coming off of it.
>
> That being said, there are still a few options open to you. Some of those sympton will go away, if your doctor raises your dose to 150mg. The antidepressant/antianxiety effects SSRIs plateau at a certain dosage, whereas the effects of Effexor continue to increase with increasing in dosage. At 75mg, Effexor is acting mainly as an SSRI; at 150mg to 300mg Effexor blocks the reuptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine; and over 450mg (and very slightly at 300mg) dopamine reuptake begins to be blocked.
>
> Perhaps you need to increase the dose, rather than go off of the med. Since your doc is out of town, it is best to keep the status quo. Besides, many people have side effect for 12 to 16 weeks. At the 300mg dose, it felt like I had a ball of fuzzy stuck to the inside left frontal part of my skull, but that just disappeared after 4 months.
>
> Hang in there a while longer, at least until you can talk to your doc who can either help you quit, or increase the dose. The side effects may come back with each dose increase, but they are a little different and do not last as long as this first round.
>
> I hope that this is of some help. - CamThanks for all of the information. I have a 90 day supply of 75 mg Effexor XR. Last night I dumped 1/2 of the drug out of one capsule down the drain. Unfortunately, when I decide that I want to do something, I usually do it. I did alot of thinking before doing this though. I really can't see taking a drug that makes you sick before it makes you feel better. My doctor is just going to tell me to go off of the drug, and even if he said to stay on it, I would go off. This may seem rather negative, but it is just me.
It seems as though the withdrawl is somewhat like the side effects of the drug. I am on vacation this week and had planned on going off of the drug the first of this week, but I wanted to get some things done first, Effexor XR did help my motivation when I first started it, that has almost stopped. The physical side effects this week has taken its toll on me. Your opinion really made me feel better. Thanks.
Posted by rmshed on August 10, 2001, at 8:54:44
In reply to Re: Want to get off Effexor XR, posted by T.T. on August 10, 2001, at 0:26:07
> DO NOT TRY TO GET OFF THIS MEDICATION WITHOUT HELP FROM YOUR DOCTOR! I ended up in the hospital due to the withdrawal symptoms associated with discontinuing Effexor. At that time, I suffered from myoclonus (your muscles seize and twitch out of your control). The ER doc said if I would have gone on any longer, my heart (muscle) would have seized. Since then (June 1st), I have tapered down to 37.5 mg every three days. If I don't take it on the third day, I suffer from shock-like feelings through my body, terrible night (and day) sweats, vivid nightmares, dizziness, flu-like syptoms...you name it. Doctors don't tell you when they put you on it that it will be hell getting off of it.
>
> PURE HELL. T.T.It sounds like pure hell. But what can a doctor do for withdrawl? He can give you a tapering schedule, but it will be one that is generic. I have the ability to experiment with the dosage, I have a 90 day supply of 75mg XR, at any time that I feel that I am in danger, I will call 911 immediately. How much Effexor XR were you on, and why did you go off of the drug? You must of had some side effects from the drug, which would you say was worse, the side effects or the withdrawl?
Becky
>
> > I have been on Effexor XR 75 mg for about 9 weeks. The physical side effects have leveled out, but they never go away. The Effexor has really helped with my depression, but not to the extent that I will continue to tolerate feeling physically sick on a daily basis. I know many of you have had withdrawl when going off of Effexor, any advice or suggestion or support will be greatly appreciated. BTW, my side effects have included elevated blood pressure, nausea, fluid retention, bladder leakage, headache, digestive disorders. I am going off of this medication without the help of my doctor, he is on vacation and I refuse to take this medication any longer than I have too.
> >
> > Thanks in advance.
> >
> > Becky
Posted by Cam W. on August 10, 2001, at 9:12:21
In reply to Re: Want to get off Effexor XR, posted by rmshed on August 10, 2001, at 8:54:44
Becky - If you do get severe withdrawl symptoms (most people don't) your doc can prescribe 10mg to 20mg (depending on severity of symptoms) of Prozac daily, to be taken with the 37.5mg of Effexor for a week; then you stop the Effexor and take the Prozac for another week. The Prozac, with it's long half-life, leaves the body slowly and you don't get the serotonin withdrawl symptoms. I wouldn't think of coming off of Effexor without my doc watching over me. - Cam
Posted by rmshed on August 11, 2001, at 10:43:14
In reply to Re: Want to get off Effexor XR » rmshed, posted by Cam W. on August 10, 2001, at 9:12:21
> Becky - If you do get severe withdrawl symptoms (most people don't) your doc can prescribe 10mg to 20mg (depending on severity of symptoms) of Prozac daily, to be taken with the 37.5mg of Effexor for a week; then you stop the Effexor and take the Prozac for another week. The Prozac, with it's long half-life, leaves the body slowly and you don't get the serotonin withdrawl symptoms. I wouldn't think of coming off of Effexor without my doc watching over me. - Cam
Cam:
I decided that I would wait to get with my doctor while withdrawling from Effexor. I took the dose that he prescribed last night and I will continue to do so until I can get into to see him, or wait until my next appointment. I appreciate your suggestions. I am on 40 mg of Prozac a day and have been for 12 years. I can't help but think about all of the terrible Effexor withdrawl stories that I have read on here. I guess maybe I don't know everyone's background and how much Effexor XR they were on and how long.
Once again, thanks for the suggestions and take care.
Becky
Posted by Kristi on August 11, 2001, at 22:57:11
In reply to Re: Want to get off Effexor XR, posted by rmshed on August 11, 2001, at 10:43:14
Becky,
Good conclusion. I know it's tough, I've been there. I stopped cold turkey and wouldn't recommend it, but got thru it.
The prozac should take the edge off!!!
And I knew exactly what you meant by just getting off it..... right away..... that's just how you are if you don't like something. ME TOO. Hang in there.... and remember, MANY don't experiece the withdrawal too bad, so try to keep that out of your mind. I know with me..... somtimes if I expect it to much.. it comes. Good luck, Kristi
> > Becky - If you do get severe withdrawl symptoms (most people don't) your doc can prescribe 10mg to 20mg (depending on severity of symptoms) of Prozac daily, to be taken with the 37.5mg of Effexor for a week; then you stop the Effexor and take the Prozac for another week. The Prozac, with it's long half-life, leaves the body slowly and you don't get the serotonin withdrawl symptoms. I wouldn't think of coming off of Effexor without my doc watching over me. - Cam
>
> Cam:
>
> I decided that I would wait to get with my doctor while withdrawling from Effexor. I took the dose that he prescribed last night and I will continue to do so until I can get into to see him, or wait until my next appointment. I appreciate your suggestions. I am on 40 mg of Prozac a day and have been for 12 years. I can't help but think about all of the terrible Effexor withdrawl stories that I have read on here. I guess maybe I don't know everyone's background and how much Effexor XR they were on and how long.
>
> Once again, thanks for the suggestions and take care.
>
> Becky
Posted by rmshed on August 12, 2001, at 14:00:47
In reply to Re: Want to get off Effexor XR-Becky, posted by Kristi on August 11, 2001, at 22:57:11
>
>
>
>
>
> Becky,
> Good conclusion. I know it's tough, I've been there. I stopped cold turkey and wouldn't recommend it, but got thru it.
> The prozac should take the edge off!!!
> And I knew exactly what you meant by just getting off it..... right away..... that's just how you are if you don't like something. ME TOO. Hang in there.... and remember, MANY don't experiece the withdrawal too bad, so try to keep that out of your mind. I know with me..... somtimes if I expect it to much.. it comes. Good luck, Kristi
>
>
Oh how I know Kristi....if I expect something too much it comes!
>
>
>
>
>
> > > Becky - If you do get severe withdrawl symptoms (most people don't) your doc can prescribe 10mg to 20mg (depending on severity of symptoms) of Prozac daily, to be taken with the 37.5mg of Effexor for a week; then you stop the Effexor and take the Prozac for another week. The Prozac, with it's long half-life, leaves the body slowly and you don't get the serotonin withdrawl symptoms. I wouldn't think of coming off of Effexor without my doc watching over me. - Cam
> >
> > Cam:
> >
> > I decided that I would wait to get with my doctor while withdrawling from Effexor. I took the dose that he prescribed last night and I will continue to do so until I can get into to see him, or wait until my next appointment. I appreciate your suggestions. I am on 40 mg of Prozac a day and have been for 12 years. I can't help but think about all of the terrible Effexor withdrawl stories that I have read on here. I guess maybe I don't know everyone's background and how much Effexor XR they were on and how long.
> >
> > Once again, thanks for the suggestions and take care.
> >
> > Becky
Posted by Kristi on August 13, 2001, at 1:37:03
In reply to Re: Want to get off Effexor XR-Becky, posted by rmshed on August 12, 2001, at 14:00:47
Ha ha..... I say that because I read all the side effects, withdrawal effects.... and got every single one of them. I wonder how many of them I would have experienced if I hadn't read about em?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Becky,
> > Good conclusion. I know it's tough, I've been there. I stopped cold turkey and wouldn't recommend it, but got thru it.
> > The prozac should take the edge off!!!
> > And I knew exactly what you meant by just getting off it..... right away..... that's just how you are if you don't like something. ME TOO. Hang in there.... and remember, MANY don't experiece the withdrawal too bad, so try to keep that out of your mind. I know with me..... somtimes if I expect it to much.. it comes. Good luck, Kristi
> >
> >
> Oh how I know Kristi....if I expect something too much it comes!
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > > Becky - If you do get severe withdrawl symptoms (most people don't) your doc can prescribe 10mg to 20mg (depending on severity of symptoms) of Prozac daily, to be taken with the 37.5mg of Effexor for a week; then you stop the Effexor and take the Prozac for another week. The Prozac, with it's long half-life, leaves the body slowly and you don't get the serotonin withdrawl symptoms. I wouldn't think of coming off of Effexor without my doc watching over me. - Cam
> > >
> > > Cam:
> > >
> > > I decided that I would wait to get with my doctor while withdrawling from Effexor. I took the dose that he prescribed last night and I will continue to do so until I can get into to see him, or wait until my next appointment. I appreciate your suggestions. I am on 40 mg of Prozac a day and have been for 12 years. I can't help but think about all of the terrible Effexor withdrawl stories that I have read on here. I guess maybe I don't know everyone's background and how much Effexor XR they were on and how long.
> > >
> > > Once again, thanks for the suggestions and take care.
> > >
> > > Becky
This is the end of the thread.
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