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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by KatieUK on November 18, 2003, at 20:00:49
In reply to Re: Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else?, posted by ceecee on November 11, 2003, at 5:06:44
hi. i've just found and read this entire thread, and i'm really upset.
i've resisted taking anti-depressants for so long (always), and gave in just over a year ago, so have been taking efexor since then. i was very unhappy at the thought of taking it, but tried to do a comprehensive look-up on the internet first, to find out all i could; wish i'd found this site then. most of the information that i found then was the same or similar to the copy on the leaflet enclosed with the efexor, except for one user group where everyone seemed to be taking/have taken everything known to man, and they were generally vague about them all (as in, they might help, and then they'd be good..). so i took them. i dealt with various side-effects, mostly the ones mentioned here already - lack of patience / increased aggression, itchiness, 'zapping' in the head (which i, not knowing whether it was important or not, spent ages trying to describe to my gp and psychiatrist - the latter not mentioning to me for ages, until i asked, that i wasn't the first and only wierdo to describe any such thing). there were other symptoms near the beginning as well, which went away (mostly my body couldn't cope with temperature change - thought it was that i was getting too hot generally until i realised that it was more a reaction to the cold winter weather - went to a hot country worried about overheating, but was fine).
aaanyway, the point is, i've accepted delays from the psychiatrist re. coming off the pills, and was finally doing it. i've always known that it had to be done gradually, but (stupidly, i guess) just didn't realise that there might be any physical side-effects of stopping taking them, or psychological ones if stopping so gradually. the psychatrist recommended 150/75mg every other day for 2 weeks, then 75mg every day for 2 weeks, then stop. i actually took 75mg every other day for a bit after that as well. no-one's ever mentioned to me that 37.5mg existed. the only side-effect that i had while phasing it out was loads of very vivid dreams - ones that i often couldn't tell from reality - but didn't make the connection because i had no idea that taking less could increase side-effects. other than that, everything was absolutely fine until i stopped taking them completely.
i took the last pill about 9-10 days ago. i've been thinking for most of that time that i've been ill with a stomach virus, due to the fact that i've been feeling very very sick all the time. now, having read this, it seems more likely that there was no virus, and that it was due to nausea from withdrawal of the medication. particularly since i had a massive overnight mood swing, and the first day that i felt queasy i also couldn't stop crying and felt absolutely awful. then a few days later started getting VERY itchy, especially at night. VERY VERY itchy - like ripping holes in my legs with fingernails and then resorting to my hairbrush 'cos it's safer (sorry for excessive information!). and the other thing is - the 'zapping' is back. (it is such a relief to have something to call it now (after reading thread) other than 'that thing in my head' as i have been.) but this time it's on overdrive, all the time, especially every time i change my visual focus. (has anyone else found that about it? - always was happening when i took my contact lenses out, too.) between the zapping and the itching and a bit of residual nausea, not to mention how i feel emotionally, i feel like i'm losing the plot, going round that twist, and generally becoming a full-time nutter at last.
staged a sit-in at the doctors today - a 'helpful' receptionist had been fielding me for days despite my being in floods of tears. saw gp, who seemed to think it as unlikely as i that it could be withdrawal (seemed so illogical to both of us). i really trust her. but then had to phone psychiatrist, who had seemed to take it as a personal insult that i never accepted the inevitability of the efficacy of the drugs, and who wrote a sarcastic letter to my gp mentioning my lack of 'appreciation'! anwyay, due to his assumptions about and attitude towards me i thought that he's assume this was such more evidence of my distrust of the pills; basically, i'd been sitting here thinking that i as going to sound like, and probably was being, a hypochondriac. he suggested taking one pill to see if it helps and then calling him tomorrow to tell him whether it helped. it did. so now what? i can only either take it or not, right? there's hardly a halfway measure - and nor was there with the after-effects.
then i read this and cried, partly with anger that i had no idea this could happen, and partly with fear that i could have lasting side/after-effects from these pills which i never wanted to take anyway and which may or may not have even worked.
if you're STILL reading this - well, you certainly have stamina. i'm really sorry it's so very long and tedious; only it's very late right now, and i can't get hold of the only person i can phone who's in a different time zone (sister in l.a.) - and reading this thread just left a lot of stuff to unburden. it helped a lot, though, cos as well as discovering some frightening information i've discovered that i'm not going crazy and not alone.
so thank you all very much (and goodnight)
katie (uk)
Posted by ceecee on November 19, 2003, at 10:54:46
In reply to Re: Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else?, posted by KatieUK on November 18, 2003, at 20:00:49
hi katie
It feels so good not beeing the only one who is "going crazy" but discovering that it's "just" a side-effect of the med...
You said you refused for a long time to take any med at all. I can just tell you: despite the fact that the withdrawl of efexor has not been easy - efexor has really helped me for a great while.
It all depends on your symptoms.
But if the depression is as severe as mine it is better to take a med at least to be able to survive it somehow...
Presently I am off efexor since two days. (I came down as fast as you and didn't take 37.5mg) I still have the withdrawl symptoms from time to time but it's getting less (expecially the most disturbing one: the aphasia)
what helped me to get the symptoms controlled is "Deanxit" and i am taking "Cipralex" as a new SSRI.
(I take the "Deanxit" only when i have symptoms. In the beginning it was about 5 times a day, now it has reduced to 1 time)
I just want to tell you one thing: the med does not cure the depression and it can never substitute a psychotherapy and the process of self-healing. It can only settle this "serotonin-thing" in your head. That means it makes you able to work on your situation and to change certain things in your life for better.
The main work is still left for you to do.
The med should also not change your pesonality - but change you back to whom you could be without the depression.
( sorry for my english - it's not my native tounge)
I really wish you good luck on your way- with or without med it is a hard job....
CeeCee.
Posted by leisha on November 19, 2003, at 14:55:21
In reply to Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else?, posted by Paul Mokeski on April 25, 2002, at 13:57:24
Well, I can certainly pull rank on most of you! I've been on Efexor for 6 and a half years and am grateful for the help it has been - BUT! Boy is it impossible to get off without other medication ( Prozac?? That was fun before the efexor - the screaming habdabs after about 6 days.) I have tried every combination of gradual withdrawal and sudden too and have experienced nearly all you have felt (but NOT all -yet!) Yes, nightmares after even just the first half-dose, IBS that Colofac,loperamide and codeine together wouldn't touch, flu symptoms, no temperature control, headache, wobbliness etc etc.And that awful self awareness which is the opposite of carefree, the unwilling monitoring of how nasty I'm beginning to feel again.
But these in different combinations each time I dropped down. So angry I could tear myself apart or explode - this time so terribly miserable and as usual hypochondriacal.
And so you go back to flatlining emotionally and weary and not achieving just to feel physically healthy ( but oh! so constipated and farty!!)
And has the brain been changed chemically by the efexor so that it can't be happy or calm without it?
Thanks for listening - I hope you feel you're one of a very big normal group.
Posted by Tracee on November 19, 2003, at 18:19:27
In reply to Re: Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else?, posted by KatieUK on November 18, 2003, at 20:00:49
Hiya Katie,
It's really good to find out you're not alone huh.
I'm over nearly all of the effexor side-effects now.
I came off them too fast and then my body went into 'seretonin crisis'. I ended up in hospital for a week because I got too low and couldn't gaurantee my own safety.
I'm now on 200mg of Zoloft. It seems to be helping.
Because of the anger side effects I had, I'm now also on Zyprexa(an anti-psychotic). Only for the short term though. Although I haven't let my doctor know that I don't want to stay on that one long term yet.
I send my love and prayers to everyone on this site. Don't forget, the meds are only part of the solution and not the answer.
The counselling is where the progress comes. I get a lot of great advice on how to deal with the different stresses of daily living.
Good luck everyone.It wont last forever. Tracee. :)
Posted by KatieUK on November 19, 2003, at 18:54:23
In reply to Re: Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else?, posted by ceecee on November 19, 2003, at 10:54:46
well, i took one 75mg pill last night as directed by psychiatrist, just to make sure that that was the cause. and, of course, it was. i'm so angry that nobody bothered to tell me that this might happen. and i feel so stupid and naive for not realising that it could. now having phonecall to psychiatrist when with gp on friday, and he did mention the possibility of another medication to cover symptoms. i really don't want to take anything else - and maybe have to deal with another set of side-effects from that.... he also (only after i brought them up, though) suggested 37.5mg tablets, and not using the extended release ones so that the dose can be reduced very gradually. my problem with that, though, is that things seem to work with me as with someone very early in this thread (paul?): though i tapered the dosage slowly, it was after taking the final pill that things started to get really bad - so what's halfway between something and nothing? i'm scared, 'specially have read the posts from those who said that their symptoms lasted a really long time. the idea, when it's come up, of taking anti-depressants for the rest of one's life to maintain 'normality' fills me with horror; so obviously there's that to the power of three with some irony thrown in that, in theory, i could be taking it just cos i can't stop; at that point i'm taking a drug, not as a 'cure' for a 'disease', but just as a cure for itself. hope that makes sense.
it is so outrageous and manipulative that i wasn't informed - surely it is part of the duty of care of any doctor to explain the possible ramifications of any medication which they prescribe to a patient, and i know that he would have not mentioned it because he didn't want to risk my refusing to take the medication.
i do know what you mean about taking the drug versus taking nothing - only i've had very bad episodes before and they've gone, eventually. and that's what's happened this time. and i'm not really sure that it was any less awful. though the timing and/or pattern may be different, you can never really know for sure that anything your body does is due to some specific cause (you can never know what would have happened otherwise) - and so i don't know for sure if the pills 'worked'. on the other hand, when experiencing bizarre symptoms which i've never encountered before, it's a pretty fair assumption to blame the drug. all of which makes it a lot easier to trust in the negative than the positive (as in most things in life). so, in conclusion, i don't know that the drugs did much good, but i do know about the bad (hopefully there's no more that i don't know about!), i don't know what would have happened if i hadn't taken it and i also don't know that there isn't another drug out there which really would help (and have fewer side-effects). this psychiatrist has never seen me through a bad one b4 (and wouldn't have if i'd persistently refused chemicals), so he can attribute every advance to the efexor (though it seems so unscientific to me). he seems to think that the fact that i am so much better than a year ago is proof that the pills worked; to me that's equivalent to a believer saying to a non-believer that the proof that god exists is in the world around you (when you have to already believe to consider that to be proof) - it's a completely circular argument.
anyway, sorry everyone (anyone) - seem to have bleated on and on again with out-loud musings and rantings. gonna go and take another pill now ;-)
katie
Posted by ceecee on November 20, 2003, at 12:15:05
In reply to Re: Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else?, posted by KatieUK on November 19, 2003, at 18:54:23
Hi Katie
It seems you are one of the lucky people who don't need any med and you have - mistakenly not knowing about side-effects of course - started with the efexor.
I hope and pray for you that you will gradually reduce and then stop the med.
In your situation I would try first to wait for some hours more before taking the next dose untill you're able to maybe take it every second day or even less.
To take a med to cure the side-effects of itself and not because of the depression seems really insane.
In my own case the situation didn't give me any other option than to start a med. Before I started it I was suffering of depression for over 10 years and I can say I was fed up. To start the efexor was my last option before thinking of ending it all up.
In that kind of a situation I felt good with the decision of taking a med and the question was only: which one?
I think it would help you a lot if you acept that you started it and you kind of "forgive" yourself and the doctor for "not knowing it better".
I think finding peace with the situation will help the side-effects to vanish faster.
As I red the statements about efexor-withdrawl I said to myself: When you started it you had a reason. Now you have a reason to stop it. Ok just do it slowly and the side-effects will pass sooner or later.
As I accepted the situation it seemed the side-effects got a lot easier to take and they started to be rarer!
Just try that. Good luck!
Posted by pixygoth on November 20, 2003, at 14:19:48
In reply to Re: Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else?, posted by KatieUK on November 19, 2003, at 18:54:23
Hello there - been away from my computer for a few days...
Wanted to say that my head "zaps" come with change of focus too. Though occasionally, for a few minutes at a time, with each heartbeat.
But I'm on my 8th day of no efxr and the zaps are a rarity now. It's when I'm tired mostly.
Have you got the idea of halfing and halfing an so on till you're taking a crumb (ish) a day?
By the way I'm with you about the nhs docs and not telling you stuff. Mine says "well, you know it is a minority reaction" but that shouldn't justify the suffering of the minority.
Anyway I'm sure you'll get through it, just reduce reduce and sleep as much as you can.
And as for me, I'm (trying to) putting off worrying about *anything* else till this is finished. Actually having said that I started Lamictal yesterday but you get my meaning. Good luck,
S
Posted by responsiblek9 on November 20, 2003, at 18:33:20
In reply to Re: Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else?, posted by KatieUK on November 18, 2003, at 20:00:49
Katie Mine seems to be getting a bit better. It is week 7 and in the past couple days I have been a lot clearer and the exhaustion is letting up a bit. Still having the heart issues . but the other stuff is letting up a bit. I have been drinking gatorade a bit and taking some vitamins to help. It seems to be helping. Zinc and magnesium. Vitamin C when I remember LOL. Took a whikle to feel like eating again though. But that is passing. Slowly getting the sleep cycle changed around. I had the swapped sleep cycle. sleep in day awake all night LOL. I did go ut and sit in the sum with my eyes closed for the light to hit the back of my eyes. Sunlamp type stuff can help too. This helped a bit with the depression a bit. They have studies on sunlight and depression. It does help . he other one was to try to stay as mentally busy as i could. Computer helped there . The muscle spasms are getting better. I did ask for and got a med to stop that. Also was dehydrated a bit too. was weird even though i was drinking plenty of water. So had to up my salt intake a bit.( I tend to avoid salt because of my meniers disease) That stopped the cramping and helped with the muscle spasms along with taking as hot a bath as i could stand for the electric shock feeling in my body. That relaxed my muscles a bit and seemed to help. I was taking 3 to 4 soaks a day. Oh I wish i had a hot tub. I would have lived in it LOL. But it helped greatly . I felt cold all the time so I sat on a heating pad there for a while . maybe these things will help. I was dragging up anything i could for the withdrawal effects and these have helped make it bearable. And my irritability went down because i got the pain down.
Posted by theclocktower on December 14, 2003, at 17:59:43
In reply to Re: Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else?, posted by responsiblek9 on November 20, 2003, at 18:33:20
Posted by theclocktower on December 14, 2003, at 18:09:34
In reply to Re: Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else?, posted by KatieUK on November 19, 2003, at 18:54:23
Day 3: No Efexor. Sled dogs bark one more time they are going to be lunch. My girlfriend says I'm irritable.. *I'm irritable* ... wine, wine, wine... blah blah blah... she's next on the menu.
Seriously folks, I hate this crap. 75 was what I was taking for 4 months. Lack of sex drive.. (read: NONE, no interest in even trying) made me stop.
Since then... I've had:
a) severe night sweats to the point I have actually changed the sheets
b) electrical shocks behind the eyes with a really fun dizzy effect (kidding) with flu feeling
c) I get upset at everything
d) I have no idea if I'm hungry or full. I only eat because I know I have to
e) I can't tell what time of the day it is. (my whole life I could tell you within 5 minutes w/o ever wearing a watch)
f) I get upset at everything (that's right.. I said it twice, got a problem with that?)
g) (well? Do ya?)
h) I have started twitching when I just lie stillCAN ANYONE GIVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF HOW MUCH LONGER THIS WILL GO ON? OTHERWISE I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GET ALL NEW SLED DOGS. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!
Oh yea, and KatieUK, you were right on the money, my Dr. should have f*cking known better than to give me this crap without telling these side-effects. The problem is the drug companies.
Posted by Jaynee on December 14, 2003, at 19:04:14
In reply to Re: Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else?, posted by theclocktower on December 14, 2003, at 18:09:34
Hi Clocktower:
I have been on Effexor for only 2 weeks and I plan to stick it out and see if it works for me. But I have been reading alot about the withdrawal effects, so I will be prepared when I go to quit.
Here is a site I found that might be of help.
http://www.effexor-xr-side-effects-withdrawal.com/case-report-of-withdrawal-symptoms.html
Posted by T_R_D on December 16, 2003, at 14:42:08
In reply to Re: Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else?, posted by theclocktower on December 14, 2003, at 18:09:34
Hey there, go back to your prescribing physician and ask for about 3 days worth of Prozac. It will cut your problems immediately. The reason for this is Effexor has an extremely short half life (5 hours) whereas Prozac's is several days. It worked like a charm for me and I have been through this 4 times (twice with Effexor and twice with Celexa.) I also took over the counter remedies for the cold/flu like symptoms. It's not an easy haul but these tips help immensely!
Good luck (and yes, there is a light at the end of the tunnel--and no, it's NOT an oncoming train!)
Posted by Jaynee on December 16, 2003, at 20:38:39
In reply to Re: Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else?, posted by T_R_D on December 16, 2003, at 14:42:08
Did you stop the Effexor cold turkey or did you taper down and then take the prozac.
Thanks.
Posted by T_R_D on December 17, 2003, at 9:32:58
In reply to TRD, question, posted by Jaynee on December 16, 2003, at 20:38:39
> Did you stop the Effexor cold turkey or did you taper down and then take the prozac.
>
> Thanks.Hi Jaynee, the first time I was on Effexor I did taper (I was on 375mg a day.) Cold turkey from that would have probably killed me. The second time I was on the drug, I couldn't handle it at a mere 75mg so I just quit cold turkey. I developed a weird "intolerance" or something to the drug...realy bizarre side effects that I used to occaisionally get at the 375 dose but only at 75. Seizures were ptobably the most "dangerous." I could control them but ideally, you don't want to stay on a drug that can affect you in that manner regardless.
After I was off the drug completely, I took three (20mg I think) Prozac pills--one each day. It made a big difference. It stays in your system longer so the gradual change in neurotransmitter activity is more tolerable...for sure!
Good luck!
Posted by theclocktower on December 18, 2003, at 17:58:05
In reply to Re: Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else?, posted by T_R_D on December 16, 2003, at 14:42:08
Thank you! Day 7: Sled dogs no longer cower at my mear glance. Girlfriend is now in the desert section of the menu. I have not taken anything but Advil for these symptoms but all are gone except for 10-20 brain/eye zaps that I still get during the day. They are decreasing ... slowly.Thank you for your recommendation for Prozac! I will give it a shot if these symptoms are not gone by end of xmas.
> Hey there, go back to your prescribing physician and ask for about 3 days worth of Prozac. It will cut your problems immediately. The reason for this is Effexor has an extremely short half life (5 hours) whereas Prozac's is several days. It worked like a charm for me and I have been through this 4 times (twice with Effexor and twice with Celexa.) I also took over the counter remedies for the cold/flu like symptoms. It's not an easy haul but these tips help immensely!
>
> Good luck (and yes, there is a light at the end of the tunnel--and no, it's NOT an oncoming train!)
Posted by ARDEE on January 18, 2004, at 16:46:12
In reply to Re: Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else?, posted by leisha on November 19, 2003, at 14:55:21
Discovered this page when searching for side effects of withdrawal from Effexor XR.
Have been a relatively short term user, (4mnths)75mg per day.
From what I have read, God help anyone trying to come off higher doses.
Experienced nausea,"head Zaps", consistent with changing eye focus or head movement, cold/flu like symptons.
started to take 75mg every 2nd. day for a period of time and then 75mg every 3rd. day before stopping completely.
This is my 5th. day off and symptons have abated to some degree but not entirely.
I have visited the manufacturers site and found information only pertaining to Effexor's effectiveness in the treatment of depression.(similar to brochure in the pack)
No mention of symptoms of withdrawal, or methods or treatments for diminishing unpleasant side effects.
It would seem that my prescribing G.P. has no awareness of the symptons of withdrawal as this subject was not mentioned when prescribing the drug.(Not much time to cover these subjects with a scheduled throughput of around 6 patients per hour.)
Will attempt to revisit my G.P.to discuss this issue but in my home town in a small State of Australia,it is not unusual to have to wait 3 weeks for an appointment.
One thing I know for sure is that I will never take Effexor XR again.
Posted by gemma on January 29, 2004, at 18:23:44
In reply to Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else?, posted by Paul Mokeski on April 25, 2002, at 13:57:24
Have read this thread for some time now with great interest (and fear!) as I'd been on 450mg of Efexor-XR daily for a couple of years for post-natal depression. Thought I'd better start decreasing dose as I was feeling so well. I consulted with my specialist who suggested I come off slowly as some people get headaches??!! Thanks to those brave enough to post to this thread I've realised I'm not the only one to experience the classic symptoms - insomnia, palpitations, extreme irritability, scrambled thoughts, electric zaps, etc, etc. Returned to my specialist late last yr after 3rd failed attempt. He has since stopped prescribing Efexor-XR and suggested I take a half tablet of Avanza (15mg) each night to mask the withdrawal symptoms. It has been very successful and I've been able to get down to 75mg very quickly with virtually no symptoms. Would encourage others to hang in there - this may not work for all, but I've been amazed at my success and hope to get completely off both Efexor-XR and Avanza over the next couple of months. Would be very interested to hear how Paul, the original author of this thread, is going two years down the track?
Posted by magnolia on February 20, 2004, at 23:47:41
In reply to Re: Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else?, posted by gemma on January 29, 2004, at 18:23:44
I just found this forum today and it is interesting. My brother (in the early 30's) had an anxiety attack around March last year. From then on, he started to have all sorts of weird symptoms such as electric shocks running from head to tail, can't talk sometimes, feeling fatigue, sudden heart racing (feeling), feels all his teeth are bogus, can't walk suddenly, frequent eye staring, all the symptoms described in the posting for the author who started this thread. He was not depressive at the beginning and was cooperatively seeking treatment at that time. However, when things were not getting better, he had gone to VERY depressive (want to end his life) especially on the days he feels VERY uncomfortable.
He started to take Efexor XR last year around October, started with 75mg, 150mg, then to 225mg in 3 weeks, he had been on 225mg for almost 2 months. Because that his symptoms were not alleviated at all, on the other hand, the side effects kicked in, which made him feel bitter mouth and drop in appetite, couldn't read or focus on anything. He quit the drug gradually in 3 weeks.
Now, he refuses to take any anti-depressant drugs. But the symptoms are always there. We are trying to persuade him to start Efexor XR again, but when I saw all the postings, I feel not sure.
The problems my brother has are not related to mood swings, well, now he started to have it sometimes since he's not been getting better for a long time. It seems like that all his depression is reflected in the body symptoms. What will be the best way to cope with it??
Posted by justjustine on February 21, 2004, at 19:43:19
In reply to Re: Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else?, posted by magnolia on February 20, 2004, at 23:47:41
your brother's trust in doctors was severely damaged by his experience coming off effexor - can you try to get him to a therapist, no drugs? it would be a start.
i also kicked effexor just over a month ago, and i feel much like your brother, although i'm still open to benzo's - but won't go back on any SSRI drug unless it's that or suicide. the experience was that horrible - both physically and the feeling of complete helplessness and a doctor who just didn't seem to get it at all.
good luck, don't push him too hard. the whole experience made me feel like a creepy junkie for a while.
> I just found this forum today and it is interesting. My brother (in the early 30's) had an anxiety attack around March last year. From then on, he started to have all sorts of weird symptoms such as electric shocks running from head to tail, can't talk sometimes, feeling fatigue, sudden heart racing (feeling), feels all his teeth are bogus, can't walk suddenly, frequent eye staring, all the symptoms described in the posting for the author who started this thread. He was not depressive at the beginning and was cooperatively seeking treatment at that time. However, when things were not getting better, he had gone to VERY depressive (want to end his life) especially on the days he feels VERY uncomfortable.
>
> He started to take Efexor XR last year around October, started with 75mg, 150mg, then to 225mg in 3 weeks, he had been on 225mg for almost 2 months. Because that his symptoms were not alleviated at all, on the other hand, the side effects kicked in, which made him feel bitter mouth and drop in appetite, couldn't read or focus on anything. He quit the drug gradually in 3 weeks.
>
> Now, he refuses to take any anti-depressant drugs. But the symptoms are always there. We are trying to persuade him to start Efexor XR again, but when I saw all the postings, I feel not sure.
>
> The problems my brother has are not related to mood swings, well, now he started to have it sometimes since he's not been getting better for a long time. It seems like that all his depression is reflected in the body symptoms. What will be the best way to cope with it??
>
>
>
Posted by Lizzy7711 on February 22, 2004, at 16:42:59
In reply to Re: Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else?, posted by ARDEE on January 18, 2004, at 16:46:12
Hi, I started taking effexor about 6 weeks ago, i've been on 150mg for the past 3 weeks, just found this site last night and it's very scary seeing the withdrawal symptoms. My doc did tell me not to ever suddenly stop taking it, but she didn't go into detail at all! How are you doing now, a month later? Since i've been on it such a short time, i'm wondering if the side effects of withdrawal would be less.
The thing is, I started taking it for depression, what I've found is that although it's only helped the depression a little, it has totally cured my irritability and impatience, especially around my 4 yr old daughter. Yes, I have no libido, but i'm alone anyway...and I can see what people mean about feeling kinda flat. But the way I used to get irritated, I think from anxiety, with my daughter was so damaging that it feels SO good to feel like i'm responding to her patiently and positively.
So, i'm just weighing out whether I should go off of it since no way do I want to deal with withdrawal like others have talked about, and the possibility of long-term effects. There has got to be a better way to handle my irritability and depression than a drug that can mess up our brains THAT much!
any ideas /advice is most welcome!
thanks,
Liz
> Discovered this page when searching for side effects of withdrawal from Effexor XR.
> Have been a relatively short term user, (4mnths)75mg per day.
> From what I have read, God help anyone trying to come off higher doses.
> Experienced nausea,"head Zaps", consistent with changing eye focus or head movement, cold/flu like symptons.
> started to take 75mg every 2nd. day for a period of time and then 75mg every 3rd. day before stopping completely.
> This is my 5th. day off and symptons have abated to some degree but not entirely.
> I have visited the manufacturers site and found information only pertaining to Effexor's effectiveness in the treatment of depression.(similar to brochure in the pack)
> No mention of symptoms of withdrawal, or methods or treatments for diminishing unpleasant side effects.
> It would seem that my prescribing G.P. has no awareness of the symptons of withdrawal as this subject was not mentioned when prescribing the drug.(Not much time to cover these subjects with a scheduled throughput of around 6 patients per hour.)
> Will attempt to revisit my G.P.to discuss this issue but in my home town in a small State of Australia,it is not unusual to have to wait 3 weeks for an appointment.
> One thing I know for sure is that I will never take Effexor XR again.
>
Posted by magnolia on February 23, 2004, at 10:42:07
In reply to Re: Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else?, posted by justjustine on February 21, 2004, at 19:43:19
Thanks for the help.
But the problem is, all those symptoms were there even before he took Efexor, and that's the reason doctor prescribed that for him. For almost 3 months, he didn't see any improvement, so he quit. However, the doctor said the depression wouldn't go away by itself, it needs treatment.
He had been on no drugs for a month and a half. Things were not getting better or worse for a while. Then just last week, he started to feel worse with the head-aches and very bad appetite. When the attack happens, he just sit (or squad) on the floor and lean (or knock) his head on the edge of the bed, his doing this because he couldn't lay down or sit.
He wouldn't go see any therapist either, he said he doesn't need it, all he needs is to get rid of all those weird body symptoms.
He rarely goes out for a walk, basically no exercises at all. When I persuaded him to do some exercise, he cried out (even with tears sometimes) "It's not that I don't want to do, I can't do it! You don't know my feelings!"
> your brother's trust in doctors was severely damaged by his experience coming off effexor - can you try to get him to a therapist, no drugs? it would be a start.
>
> i also kicked effexor just over a month ago, and i feel much like your brother, although i'm still open to benzo's - but won't go back on any SSRI drug unless it's that or suicide. the experience was that horrible - both physically and the feeling of complete helplessness and a doctor who just didn't seem to get it at all.
>
> good luck, don't push him too hard. the whole experience made me feel like a creepy junkie for a while.
>
> > I just found this forum today and it is interesting. My brother (in the early 30's) had an anxiety attack around March last year. From then on, he started to have all sorts of weird symptoms such as electric shocks running from head to tail, can't talk sometimes, feeling fatigue, sudden heart racing (feeling), feels all his teeth are bogus, can't walk suddenly, frequent eye staring, all the symptoms described in the posting for the author who started this thread. He was not depressive at the beginning and was cooperatively seeking treatment at that time. However, when things were not getting better, he had gone to VERY depressive (want to end his life) especially on the days he feels VERY uncomfortable.
> >
> > He started to take Efexor XR last year around October, started with 75mg, 150mg, then to 225mg in 3 weeks, he had been on 225mg for almost 2 months. Because that his symptoms were not alleviated at all, on the other hand, the side effects kicked in, which made him feel bitter mouth and drop in appetite, couldn't read or focus on anything. He quit the drug gradually in 3 weeks.
> >
> > Now, he refuses to take any anti-depressant drugs. But the symptoms are always there. We are trying to persuade him to start Efexor XR again, but when I saw all the postings, I feel not sure.
> >
> > The problems my brother has are not related to mood swings, well, now he started to have it sometimes since he's not been getting better for a long time. It seems like that all his depression is reflected in the body symptoms. What will be the best way to cope with it??
> >
> >
> >
>
Posted by antigua on February 23, 2004, at 18:42:24
In reply to Re: Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else?, posted by Lizzy7711 on February 22, 2004, at 16:42:59
I feel the same way. Effexor has taken care of my impatience and irritability, especially around my kids, and I'm very grateful for that. I think it has helped w/the depression, but not as much. But I'm so happy to not be so irritable, that it's worth it for me. I'm moving up to 225 mg p/day.
I did run out once and had to wait three days for the doctor to refill it. I didn't start to feel bad until the third day, but I'm glad I didn't have to try to go any longer.
good luck,
antigua
Posted by Lizzy7711 on February 23, 2004, at 21:18:02
In reply to Re: Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Lizzy, posted by antigua on February 23, 2004, at 18:42:24
Thanks Antigua, I think I'm going to stick it out for awhile. I just can't imagine right now going back to being a screaming mom, and just FEELING so tense all the time. My daughter is already changing her behavior since i've been on Effexor, so I know that my increased patience is really helping her. So I guess if one day I decide to go off, i'll just have to deal with the consequences/effects.
I was wondering, how long have you been on it? Do the effects of less irritability continue or diminish at all?
I tried 300 for a week, and just felt way too tired all the time, so I went back to 150.take care and good luck to you too,
Liz
Posted by antigua on February 25, 2004, at 15:09:27
In reply to Re: Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Lizzy, posted by Lizzy7711 on February 23, 2004, at 21:18:02
I've been on Effexor since last June (8 mnonths or so). It took several months and upping the dose to 150 for me to even feel affected. I just felt numb and tired all the time. Like I said, I'm going to 225 because I felt I was sliding and feeling more depressed.
Yes, at least for me, the patience and calmness I feel is ongoing. Even my PMS is easier, which was always my worst time (as it is for so many of us, I assume). I just feel calmer. I exercise too, which has helped my blood pressure, which calms me down, etc., etc.
My husband told me something interesting last night. He was driving our 11-yr old daughter home from basketball practice and they were discussing what I should give up for Lent. First of all, I thought why are they deciding for me?? I thought it was kind of strange, but my daughter said, "Hey, I was going to say she could give up cussing at cars, but mom doesn't do that anymore. She never yells at cars at all anymore." I didn't realize this, but she did, so the changes that we make have broader benefits that we sometimes can see. It made me feel good to know that there were outward signs that I am much calmer. Happier? I don't know, but definitely more patient w/my kids.
antigua
Posted by KatieUK on March 14, 2004, at 19:53:33
In reply to Re: Efexor XR - Long Term Withdrawal - Anyone Else?, posted by Lizzy7711 on February 22, 2004, at 16:42:59
Just in case anyone wondered …. I think my last posting was about 4 months ago, and I’m still not off the efexor. But getting there, slowly. And when I say slowly, I mean extremely, extremely slowly. It’s frustrating and annoying, but I’m going to get there in the end – could be a good idea for Lizzy, for example, if you dod decide that you want to stop taking the drug; if you are patient, persistent, (good at counting,) and determined not to have to experience withdrawal symptoms (which I certainly am after having been there ‘only’ once), it does the job.
first I tried to reduce by taking one 37.5mg pill twice a day, but had symptoms before the next pill was scheduled. It then seemed logical to try taking less of the slow release capsule, so I put myself on a slow reduction plan. Gp asked advice from a different psychiatrist, one I’ve never met, who said to try without taking another medication, so:THE METHOD: first I tried to reduce by taking one 37.5mg pill twice a day, but had symptoms before the next pill was scheduled. It then seemed logical to try taking less of the slow release capsule, so I put myself on a slow reduction plan. First I opened the 75mg capsule and took out 5 granules (they do vary in size but I figured that it’d average out), then put it back together. The next day I took out 10 granules, then 15. then, when I started to feel some symptoms (bit of zapping and nausea) I stayed on the same amount for 2 days. Then went up to 3, then 4, for the same reason. Then I did go back to 3 (impatience got the better of me). Tonight will be my first night of counting out and chucking 170 – and boy, is it exciting(!) thought that I’d got halfway ages ago, but the one time I could be bothered to count all the granules in a capsule there were 278 – it really is a long haul. Since the bad symptoms only started after I’d stopped taking the drug altogether before, I am a bit worried about the end of the process, but logically I know that it has to work, even if I end up taking 1 granule every other day for 2 months! (joke)
SMALL ANECDOTE: I had food poisoning a few weeks ago, for just a couple of days. Then, a few days later, I started to feel sick. As I hadn’t felt quite like that with the poisoning, and as it had pretty much gone, I thought that it must have been a withdrawal symptom, and maybe I’d been going to fast or something. So I went up a bit – counted out a few less granules. But then I realised the obvious: it was because I had vomited in the middle of the night while ill, after taking my pill just prior to going to bed – I had thrown up the pill. And then, 4/5 days later, despite having successfully taken all pills in the interim period, I started to feel some withdrawal nausea. That, to me, illustrates a pretty extreme withdrawal reaction! (not meant in an ‘I’m worse off than any of you’ way – more an ‘how can it continue that this problem is not known about, not taken note of, and not warned about’ sort of way.)
ONE LAST THING: I am sooo tired so much of the time, and I’m sleeping sooooooo much. It’s my biggest frustration about still being on the efexor – I don’t know if I can attribute it to the drug (or withdrawal from it), something else, or just me. And I feel so lazy and guilty about sleeping so much. Sometimes in the day it’s like having been shot with a sleep-inducing bullet – I just HAVE to lie down and sleep STRAIGHT AWAY, or else roll over in the morning and go back to sleep. If this sounds familiar to anyone I would love to hear from them….
AND THE COMEDY ENDING IS: dues to (1) guilt at sleeping in the day being slightly reduced if it doesn’t involve going back to bed and (2) the much lower temperature in my bedroom, I have been sleeping (napping) on my sofa a lot recently. And I now have a very bad infestation of bedbugs in it. Have to get the man from the council to keep on coming round to spray poison in my living room, and he said that it wouldn’t have happened, or at least be anything like so bad, if I hadn’t been sleeping on the damn thing! Talk about a side-effect!!
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