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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by AnneL on November 18, 2001, at 1:40:55
Hi to all,
I have been literally to hell and have not quite come back yet. You see, I thought I could make medical decisions on my own and manage my own "version" of what I now view as a radical and unsafe taper off of Effexor. Some of you even "told" me not to do this because of the consequences. But, I was going to do it my way.
I decided on my own to get off my meds and fast. I went from 225 mg. daily to 150 mg. for 3 days and down to 75 mg. for 2 days. Saw my pdoc last Thursday and "told" him that I was getting off meds. With lifted brow and deep concern he got me to agree to a compromise to go back to 150 mg. until our next visit. I went back to 150 mg. on the 9th of November.
Today, one week later, I almost ended up in the hospital because of my actions.It all started with fatigue and flu-like symptoms one week after reducing my dose from 225 to 75 back to 150 mg. I almost didn't get out of bed yesterday to get to work, but managed to drag myself into work. I felt slightly nauseated yesterday (Friday). Last night while out to dinner, I got up to leave the restaurant without even getting the check. My husband
was a little surprised by my behavior, but we didn't think too much of it.This morning, I went for my customary walk with some friends and family and I was given $10.00 to pay for our coffees at a coffee house. I walked out with my coffee and I honestly don't know if I paid for the coffees or not! I did not have any money on me, but I do not remember giving any money to the store clerk!
This was the omenous sign of what was to come later.I started "zoning" out later on in the day, could not answer my husband, felt completely disassociated and started having suicidal ideation and became completely morose all in one day. I called my pdoc in quite a state and he calmly diagnosed me as having a withdrawal reaction and after assessing that I was in a safe place (husband watching me, and able to take action if necessary) instructed me to take an additional 75 mg. of Effexor XR right then and there and to resume 225 mg. tomorrow morning. He assured me that I was not going "bonkers" as I put it and reminded
me of his concerns of me stepping down on the Effexor so rapidly.I never thought this could happen to me. I now have an awesome respect for the power of this medication. This medication has been a lifesaver for me, but now I am completely humbled on two accounts; one is that I will from now on consult with my pdoc before I make rash decisions and two that I will never think that something that this cannot happen to "me".
I do thank God that I am not in some horrible relapse and that my symptoms will lesson in 2 or 3 days. I tell my story not to frighten anyone who is new to Effexor, as I said, Effexor has been great for me, but to suggest that when the time comes to go off of Effexor with your pdoc's advice, that you take it slow. My pdoc tells me that most people can taper off Effexor sucessfully by keeping it very slow and using Prozac if necessary to minimize any discontinuation symptoms. Well, now that I have been humbled, I think I'll get some sleep. I feel like a wet rag. . .
Posted by Pamela Lynn on November 18, 2001, at 4:59:20
In reply to My Effexor Withdrawal - To hell and back, posted by AnneL on November 18, 2001, at 1:40:55
Wow!! Thank you for writing all that down....I am on Effexor (not planning on goin off anytime soon) and will remember this if the need ever arrises for me to go off of it.
P.L.
> Hi to all,
>
> I have been literally to hell and have not quite come back yet. You see, I thought I could make medical decisions on my own and manage my own "version" of what I now view as a radical and unsafe taper off of Effexor. Some of you even "told" me not to do this because of the consequences. But, I was going to do it my way.
>
> I decided on my own to get off my meds and fast. I went from 225 mg. daily to 150 mg. for 3 days and down to 75 mg. for 2 days. Saw my pdoc last Thursday and "told" him that I was getting off meds. With lifted brow and deep concern he got me to agree to a compromise to go back to 150 mg. until our next visit. I went back to 150 mg. on the 9th of November.
> Today, one week later, I almost ended up in the hospital because of my actions.
>
> It all started with fatigue and flu-like symptoms one week after reducing my dose from 225 to 75 back to 150 mg. I almost didn't get out of bed yesterday to get to work, but managed to drag myself into work. I felt slightly nauseated yesterday (Friday). Last night while out to dinner, I got up to leave the restaurant without even getting the check. My husband
> was a little surprised by my behavior, but we didn't think too much of it.
>
> This morning, I went for my customary walk with some friends and family and I was given $10.00 to pay for our coffees at a coffee house. I walked out with my coffee and I honestly don't know if I paid for the coffees or not! I did not have any money on me, but I do not remember giving any money to the store clerk!
> This was the omenous sign of what was to come later.
>
> I started "zoning" out later on in the day, could not answer my husband, felt completely disassociated and started having suicidal ideation and became completely morose all in one day. I called my pdoc in quite a state and he calmly diagnosed me as having a withdrawal reaction and after assessing that I was in a safe place (husband watching me, and able to take action if necessary) instructed me to take an additional 75 mg. of Effexor XR right then and there and to resume 225 mg. tomorrow morning. He assured me that I was not going "bonkers" as I put it and reminded
> me of his concerns of me stepping down on the Effexor so rapidly.
>
> I never thought this could happen to me. I now have an awesome respect for the power of this medication. This medication has been a lifesaver for me, but now I am completely humbled on two accounts; one is that I will from now on consult with my pdoc before I make rash decisions and two that I will never think that something that this cannot happen to "me".
>
> I do thank God that I am not in some horrible relapse and that my symptoms will lesson in 2 or 3 days. I tell my story not to frighten anyone who is new to Effexor, as I said, Effexor has been great for me, but to suggest that when the time comes to go off of Effexor with your pdoc's advice, that you take it slow. My pdoc tells me that most people can taper off Effexor sucessfully by keeping it very slow and using Prozac if necessary to minimize any discontinuation symptoms. Well, now that I have been humbled, I think I'll get some sleep. I feel like a wet rag. . .
Posted by angel1 on November 18, 2001, at 6:50:28
In reply to My Effexor Withdrawal - To hell and back, posted by AnneL on November 18, 2001, at 1:40:55
HELLO,
IF EFFEXOR WAS GOOD FOR YOU, WHY ARE YOU WEANING
YOURSELF FROM IT. I READ SOMEWHERE THAT THE MORE
YOU GO ON AND OFF MEDICATION, THE HARDER IT BECOMES FOR YOUR BRAIN TO NORMALIZE. I THINK THAT
PEOPLE LIKE US WHO NEED ANTIDEPRESSANTS THERAPY,
PROBABLY NEED IT FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES. I
HAVE TRIED SEVERAL ANTI-DEPRESSANTS AND WAS NEVER COMPLETELY COMPLIANT AND PAID THE CONSEQUENCES. BUT NOW, AFTER THIS LAST BOUT OF DEPRESSION, I HAVE BECOME VERY COMPLIANT AND TAKE MY MEDICATION EVERY DAY AT THE SAME TIME AND WILL NEVER GO OFF MY MEDICINE AGAIN AS LONG AS IT KEEPS WORKING. THESE ARE JUST MY OPINIONS OF COURSE. TAKE CARE AND I WISH YOU WELL WITH TAPERING EFFEXOR.
Posted by AnneL on November 18, 2001, at 16:20:33
In reply to Re: My Effexor Withdrawal - To hell and back, posted by angel1 on November 18, 2001, at 6:50:28
Hi Angel,
You ask a very good question and your point is well taken. Why would I want to go off of a medication that is working? I can only answer the question with another question. . . What is it in human nature that makes accepting our disease so difficult? Why can't some people take direction and instructions from other professionals? And can someone answer this - Why do we have to suffer in order to learn to do or not to do something?
I'am glad you are compliant in taking your medications now and that you have accepted that you may have a life-long partnership with medications. Perhaps I shall too. I'am working on acceptance of how things really are, that I have a disease that is treatable, that for now medications are important for my quality of life.
Thank you for sharing your experience, strength and hope for all of us. And most importantly, thank you for sharing something that we all have in common, namely, that the choices we make all have consequences, some good, some bad. Good luck to you, your post was particularly inspiring to me. :) Anne
Posted by jay on November 19, 2001, at 2:16:10
In reply to My Effexor Withdrawal - To hell and back, posted by AnneL on November 18, 2001, at 1:40:55
Just curious...why did you feel you "needed" to come off Effexor?
Jay :-)
> Hi to all,
>
> I have been literally to hell and have not quite come back yet. You see, I thought I could make medical decisions on my own and manage my own "version" of what I now view as a radical and unsafe taper off of Effexor. Some of you even "told" me not to do this because of the consequences. But, I was going to do it my way.
>
> I decided on my own to get off my meds and fast. I went from 225 mg. daily to 150 mg. for 3 days and down to 75 mg. for 2 days. Saw my pdoc last Thursday and "told" him that I was getting off meds. With lifted brow and deep concern he got me to agree to a compromise to go back to 150 mg. until our next visit. I went back to 150 mg. on the 9th of November.
> Today, one week later, I almost ended up in the hospital because of my actions.
>
> It all started with fatigue and flu-like symptoms one week after reducing my dose from 225 to 75 back to 150 mg. I almost didn't get out of bed yesterday to get to work, but managed to drag myself into work. I felt slightly nauseated yesterday (Friday). Last night while out to dinner, I got up to leave the restaurant without even getting the check. My husband
> was a little surprised by my behavior, but we didn't think too much of it.
>
> This morning, I went for my customary walk with some friends and family and I was given $10.00 to pay for our coffees at a coffee house. I walked out with my coffee and I honestly don't know if I paid for the coffees or not! I did not have any money on me, but I do not remember giving any money to the store clerk!
> This was the omenous sign of what was to come later.
>
> I started "zoning" out later on in the day, could not answer my husband, felt completely disassociated and started having suicidal ideation and became completely morose all in one day. I called my pdoc in quite a state and he calmly diagnosed me as having a withdrawal reaction and after assessing that I was in a safe place (husband watching me, and able to take action if necessary) instructed me to take an additional 75 mg. of Effexor XR right then and there and to resume 225 mg. tomorrow morning. He assured me that I was not going "bonkers" as I put it and reminded
> me of his concerns of me stepping down on the Effexor so rapidly.
>
> I never thought this could happen to me. I now have an awesome respect for the power of this medication. This medication has been a lifesaver for me, but now I am completely humbled on two accounts; one is that I will from now on consult with my pdoc before I make rash decisions and two that I will never think that something that this cannot happen to "me".
>
> I do thank God that I am not in some horrible relapse and that my symptoms will lesson in 2 or 3 days. I tell my story not to frighten anyone who is new to Effexor, as I said, Effexor has been great for me, but to suggest that when the time comes to go off of Effexor with your pdoc's advice, that you take it slow. My pdoc tells me that most people can taper off Effexor sucessfully by keeping it very slow and using Prozac if necessary to minimize any discontinuation symptoms. Well, now that I have been humbled, I think I'll get some sleep. I feel like a wet rag. . .
Posted by AnneL on November 23, 2001, at 0:01:27
In reply to Re: My Effexor Withdrawal - To hell and back » AnneL, posted by jay on November 19, 2001, at 2:16:10
> Just curious...why did you feel you "needed" to come off Effexor?
>
> Jay :-)
>
> Hi Jay,I had a string of great days and felt I could get off of my meds. I am typically impulsive and have an unrealistic thought process that some things will not happen to me such as the Effexor
"discontinuation syndrome" as it is euphemistically called.The only thing that makes any sense is that I was in a "hypomanic" phase or something.
This is the end of the thread.
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