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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Morrigan on December 4, 2003, at 19:31:47
Hey guys, I just had a few questions about some things and wanted to see if anyone has been able to relate. I'm a 21 year-old female and had been on 75mg of Effexor XR for about 7 months roughly, when two days ago I decided to stop cold turkey because not only do I have to pay for the prescription out of my pocket with money I don't really have, but I felt like it was causing me to gain weight and wasn't working any sort of miracles. I have heard good things about the amino acid L-Tyrosine and decided to try that. Immediately following the last day on Effexor, I started taking 500mg of L-Tyrosine in the morning with 500mg of Vitamin C and a B-complex supplement.
Yesterday, I pretty much went nuts on my boyfriend and couldn't stop crying for about two hours. Then later on in the night I experienced what could be identified as hypomania, but that's honestly nothing new to me, even when on medication, so I wasn't too worried. Things started out fine today, but I've felt a little wierd and out-of-my-head since about 4 p.m. I'm experiencing brain shivers, slight vertigo, hot flashes, sweating, and I just generally have an out-of-touch feeling like you'd get if you were on antihistamines.
It's also interesting to note that I was also on the same dosage of Effexor about three years ago and had absolutely no effects at all once I quit cold turkey, and had been taking 20mg of Celexa for a time before I was prescribed with the Effexor this time. Actually being on the Celexa AND getting off of it both had no effects on me either. It also might be important to add that at the same exact time I've decided to stop the Effexor, I've given up on Aspartame which was in the diet sodas I used to drink, and have tried to cut down on caffeine, although my symptoms today seemed to have coincided with my second cup of coffee today after having hardly any yesterday.
So I guess my questions are:
1.) Has anyone had any experiences with L-Tyrosine with anti-depressant withdrawal effects? Could this be a factor in my symptoms today?
2.) Could my withdrawal from Aspartame and caffeine (to a lesser degree) be adding to these effects?
3.) Regarding my past experiences with not being sensitive to this medication, does it seem likely that these withdrawal symptoms are likely to be short-lived and possibly just be enhanced right now due to the other sudden changes I'm making?
I apologize for the length here; it's just that I've read all over and can't seem to find all the answers about my ordeal put together, and since I haven't normally had any bad effects from this stuff, it's a bit wierd.
Also I meant to add that I've ALWAYS gotten brain shivers, even long before medication, but only when I was extremely tired. Thanks a ton for reading!
Posted by Karalyn on December 5, 2003, at 19:12:49
In reply to Effexor withdrawals/L-Tyrosine, posted by Morrigan on December 4, 2003, at 19:31:47
> Hey guys, I just had a few questions about some things and wanted to see if anyone has been able to relate. I'm a 21 year-old female and had been on 75mg of Effexor XR for about 7 months roughly, when two days ago I decided to stop cold turkey because not only do I have to pay for the prescription out of my pocket with money I don't really have, but I felt like it was causing me to gain weight and wasn't working any sort of miracles. I have heard good things about the amino acid L-Tyrosine and decided to try that. Immediately following the last day on Effexor, I started taking 500mg of L-Tyrosine in the morning with 500mg of Vitamin C and a B-complex supplement.
>
> Yesterday, I pretty much went nuts on my boyfriend and couldn't stop crying for about two hours. Then later on in the night I experienced what could be identified as hypomania, but that's honestly nothing new to me, even when on medication, so I wasn't too worried. Things started out fine today, but I've felt a little wierd and out-of-my-head since about 4 p.m. I'm experiencing brain shivers, slight vertigo, hot flashes, sweating, and I just generally have an out-of-touch feeling like you'd get if you were on antihistamines.
>
> It's also interesting to note that I was also on the same dosage of Effexor about three years ago and had absolutely no effects at all once I quit cold turkey, and had been taking 20mg of Celexa for a time before I was prescribed with the Effexor this time. Actually being on the Celexa AND getting off of it both had no effects on me either. It also might be important to add that at the same exact time I've decided to stop the Effexor, I've given up on Aspartame which was in the diet sodas I used to drink, and have tried to cut down on caffeine, although my symptoms today seemed to have coincided with my second cup of coffee today after having hardly any yesterday.
>
> So I guess my questions are:
>
> 1.) Has anyone had any experiences with L-Tyrosine with anti-depressant withdrawal effects? Could this be a factor in my symptoms today?
>
> 2.) Could my withdrawal from Aspartame and caffeine (to a lesser degree) be adding to these effects?
>
> 3.) Regarding my past experiences with not being sensitive to this medication, does it seem likely that these withdrawal symptoms are likely to be short-lived and possibly just be enhanced right now due to the other sudden changes I'm making?
>
> I apologize for the length here; it's just that I've read all over and can't seem to find all the answers about my ordeal put together, and since I haven't normally had any bad effects from this stuff, it's a bit wierd.
>
> Also I meant to add that I've ALWAYS gotten brain shivers, even long before medication, but only when I was extremely tired. Thanks a ton for reading!----Hey I totally understand the going nuts on your boyfriend thing. Im a 20 year old female. I was on Effexor for about 8 months at 150mg. I had the brain shiver effect too. I think it sounds reasonable that other things such as food or drink would affect it...I dont know much...I just realized no one responded to your post and I wanted to say "hey!" uh...well i would suggest posting again if you dont get response from others here from this post. Also have you tried other helpful sites? Just search for mental health support groups online.
Posted by Morrigan on December 5, 2003, at 19:39:00
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawals/L-Tyrosine, posted by Karalyn on December 5, 2003, at 19:12:49
Hey, thanks a ton. :D Things were bad again today in the "feeling out of it" sense and I got some Benadryl, which has really helped a lot. I feel practically normal right now. I've heard that Aspartame is a drug too which warrants a lot of withdrawal effects, so I'm sure that's also part of this. I'm also on my period right now and have had an ongoing nasal/sinus congestion, so I guess that doesn't help matters out either.. I just wanted to see if anyone knew that the other stuff could effect me along with going off of the Effexor, but I think I'll be ok. I'm usually fortunate in the health/body reactions department. My boyfriend has been really supportive throughout all of this; he's been on 150mg of Effexor for a couple of years himself, but I still feel bad for what I put him through sometimes. But he always understands. Thanks again for your response. :-)
> ----Hey I totally understand the going nuts on your boyfriend thing. Im a 20 year old female. I was on Effexor for about 8 months at 150mg. I had the brain shiver effect too. I think it sounds reasonable that other things such as food or drink would affect it...I dont know much...I just realized no one responded to your post and I wanted to say "hey!" uh...well i would suggest posting again if you dont get response from others here from this post. Also have you tried other helpful sites? Just search for mental health support groups online.
Posted by loni on December 5, 2003, at 22:30:07
In reply to Effexor withdrawals/L-Tyrosine, posted by Morrigan on December 4, 2003, at 19:31:47
Morrigan--
I don't know if they are coinciding with the other substances you are taking. I did experience the same withdrawal symptoms that you did (bouts of crying and feelings of desperation, out-of-my-head/out-of-touch feeling, vertigo, flashes, intense sweating--especially night sweats) plus I was on a larger dose for a longer period of time. So I also experienced seizures, aphasia, memory lapses, brain "zaps" (WAY more unpleasant than the shivers), my eyes would roll back in my head, sleeping problems, coordination issues, trouble concentrating, my left hand and arm kept curling up to my chest (I had experienced some problems on the left side of my body) and something I call "effexor w/d belly"...i looked pregnant. Totally normal most places but gained 45 pounds...quite a bit in the lower abdomen. I wore maternity clothes for a couple of months because they were the only ones that fit. Usually I am a trim 135 for 5'7".
It sounds like you are experiencing some withdrawal symptoms. I tapered versus going cold turkey. It was hard to not want to go back on when I felt my absolute worst. Hang tight. It does subside but it IS intense and feels like it lasts longer than it actually does. My whole taper period lasted 8 weeks. Suddenly, I felt a whole lot better...the seizures stopped and some of the more intense symptoms stopped as quickly as they had come. I recovered a little more slowly from the aphasia and I still am striving to physically and mentally be functioning as I was pre-E. But I am improving so it DOES keep moving on.
Take good care.
Posted by Interject79 on December 5, 2003, at 23:26:17
In reply to Effexor withdrawals/L-Tyrosine, posted by Morrigan on December 4, 2003, at 19:31:47
Careful with the L-Tyrosine. It stimulates dopamine, norepi production which can worsen SSRI withdrawals. Caffeine withdrawal is common too, and that won't help matters. 5-HTP can help with mood instability, as can GABA and sometimes magnesium. The shocks and zaps might be made better too; otherwise antihistamines and dramamine could. I wouldn't do a lot of stuff at one time though, including stressful activities.
Withdrawal can resemble hypomania for some. (I even think some doctors misdiagnose withdrawal as bipolar disorder). Watch out for that. Take it easy :)
And if things get very strange, get up with the doctor and tell them you stopped effexor--that's actually important so they won't misdiagnose you.
Best wishes,
interject
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