![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 6328 to 6352 of 10407. Go back in thread:
Posted by platinumbride on February 8, 2004, at 14:50:31
In reply to Anyone NOT had trouble getting off this med?, posted by KimRN73 on February 4, 2004, at 12:04:47
I was on effexor, both the plain old one and the XR for about 8 weeks. I had no problem getting off of it (the problem was simply that this 'wonder drug' did not help me). I think I tapered within a week's time and then tried something new.
Good luck...unitl I read these posts, I had no idea whatsoever how tough this drug was to kick.
Diane
I am wanting to do the SLOW tapering of Effexor...but I'm freakin out because of these posts on here. I am on the regular tabs, NOT XR, 150mg daily. I plan on breaking the tabs into 4 pieces and taking the same dosage morning and night for a week at a time until im down to none. My doctor did give me zoloft 50mg daily to replace my effexor, but i wanted to hear if anyone has tapered off Effexor successfully without goin thru HELL. I do okay on this med, the only side effects are dizziness 1/2 way into the day, and i get tired easily. And i think it has contributed to my 25lb wt. gain and high blood pressure. I have been on Effexor for 3-4 yrs...started low but now on 75mg twice daily.
> Please fill me in without freaking me out HAHA
> Kim :)
Posted by poochi on February 9, 2004, at 1:05:21
In reply to Re: Going off of Effexor: Attn 4peace, posted by lacey2001 on February 8, 2004, at 13:24:02
> >
> I am on Effexor XR, slow relase capsules. I take 2 (37.5) capules each morning. How can I slowly ween myself off of these before I try to get pregnant. Has anyone had to switch to the pill form which is easier to break up? Any success, advice, concerns?
>
>I am on 37.5 every 2 days, can't seem to go any longer with out the dizziness starting, any body with any ideas how to cut back more?
thanx.
Posted by Stryker88 on February 9, 2004, at 15:04:05
In reply to anyone used zyprexa with effexor to help sleep?, posted by EFFEXED on February 7, 2004, at 14:59:08
Hi my doctor also prescribed me Zyprexa just becasue during a 45 min session I said sometimes I have weird thoughts. You are right it totally knocked me out when I fell asleep, sometimes I was almost late for work because it almost put me in a comatose state. I quit taking it because it did nothting for me but make me tired and foggy.
Posted by lacey2001 on February 9, 2004, at 17:00:35
In reply to Re: Going off of Effexor: Attn 4peace » lacey2001, posted by poochi on February 9, 2004, at 1:05:21
I wish I could help you there. I will be dealing with the same dilemma when I cut down to 37.5.
Anyone have any ideas for us?Tanya
>
> I am on 37.5 every 2 days, can't seem to go any longer with out the dizziness starting, any body with any ideas how to cut back more?
> thanx.
>
Posted by platinumbride on February 9, 2004, at 21:52:47
In reply to Anyone NOT had trouble getting off this med?, posted by KimRN73 on February 4, 2004, at 12:04:47
I posted this before but it didn't seem to take, so I'm trying again.
I was on Effexor for about 8 weeks and went off with no problem (except for the fact that I still felt like *(&^ and wanted to die).
Maybe I am a freak, but I really have never had problems going off antidepressants.......and I only go off them when they stop working. I am all about better living through chemistry :-)
I feel really badly for the hell people are going through here getting off of these meds! Maybe you will get lucky....definitely taper though. Best of luck to you and all who are wondering which is worse the symptoms or the cure.....
Diane
> I am wanting to do the SLOW tapering of Effexor...but I'm freakin out because of these posts on here. I am on the regular tabs, NOT XR, 150mg daily. I plan on breaking the tabs into 4 pieces and taking the same dosage morning and night for a week at a time until im down to none. My doctor did give me zoloft 50mg daily to replace my effexor, but i wanted to hear if anyone has tapered off Effexor successfully without goin thru HELL. I do okay on this med, the only side effects are dizziness 1/2 way into the day, and i get tired easily. And i think it has contributed to my 25lb wt. gain and high blood pressure. I have been on Effexor for 3-4 yrs...started low but now on 75mg twice daily.
> Please fill me in without freaking me out HAHA
> Kim :)
Posted by Clayton on February 10, 2004, at 2:21:35
In reply to Re: Anyone NOT had trouble getting off this med? » KimRN73, posted by platinumbride on February 9, 2004, at 21:52:47
I guess I'm a freek, too. I take Paxil (40mg/day) and had quit cold turkey several times with NO adverse side-effects at all. I have also restarted it after several months at the 40 mg dose (no titration upward) without ill effects.
I realize Paxil is not Effexor, but it seems to have the next "best" reputation for problems with withdrawl symptoms insing "Brain Zaps"s, according the the posts I've read on this board.
So why am I immune to these negative effects?
It's enough to make me want to try Effexor to see if I am immnune to those side-effects, too. My recklesss intuition tell me I well may be.
Paxil is beginning to poop out and I may need a new AD soon. Any advive on this bizarre notion of mine? (Trade Pazil for Effexor)?
Posted by Salty_Dog on February 10, 2004, at 4:07:17
In reply to Trade Effexor of Paxil??, posted by Clayton on February 10, 2004, at 2:21:35
I just stopped Effexor XR last Wednesday.
I went from 600 mg to 0 mg in 10 days, but, I was in a hospital and I switched to Lexapro (20 mg).I had lost 50 lbs. in the three weeks prior to hospitalization. I had tried to quit on my own but I got so depressed that I tried to starve myself to death.
I will write more after I get some sleep.
Posted by chase9 on February 10, 2004, at 11:51:26
In reply to Re: Sudden descent into Efexor hell, posted by MrsT on January 15, 2004, at 22:32:59
I have just started taking efexor for two weeks felt better after first week then bad again so the doc upped the dose but now im having abnormal thoughts thats making my anxiety worse anybody else have this happen if so did you go off or lower dose.any input would be great Iam off to see doc again this morning.
Posted by poochi on February 11, 2004, at 11:38:27
In reply to Re: Going off of Effexor: Attn 4peace, posted by lacey2001 on February 9, 2004, at 17:00:35
Hi everybody
Well, i'm still on Effexor, 37.5 every 2 days, maybe one day i'll be able to push it to 3.., but anyways, my question is: I've read that some people have had weight LOSS coming off effexor, but what about weight GAIN? I've gained 10 pounds in a week and 1/2, trying to come off of this drug. And I don't think i've been eating much more than usual, my appetite seems to have stayed the same. BUT the scale is going UP !!!
this sucks! This happen to anyone else?
Posted by moody on February 11, 2004, at 12:52:33
In reply to Trade Effexor of Paxil??, posted by Clayton on February 10, 2004, at 2:21:35
chase9: I also just started effexor xr (well, about a month ago now). I had the same problems as you with the up and down cycle so my doctor eventually increased my dose to 225 mg/day -- though the only days I ever feel like myself (whatever that means) are those days that I take 300 mg...so..is increasing the dosage the best thing? Perhaps its only a temporary solution...let me know what your doctor says and I hope you feel better.
Posted by KimberlyDi on February 11, 2004, at 16:55:29
In reply to new friend of effexor xr, posted by moody on February 11, 2004, at 12:52:33
> chase9: I also just started effexor xr (well, about a month ago now). I had the same problems as you with the up and down cycle so my doctor eventually increased my dose to 225 mg/day -- though the only days I ever feel like myself (whatever that means) are those days that I take 300 mg...so..is increasing the dosage the best thing? Perhaps its only a temporary solution...let me know what your doctor says and I hope you feel better.
>
At 300mg, I was "Home Again", at last, in my skin.When I bumped my dosage up alittle before the pdoc OK'd it, she was understanding after I explained the reasons why. I didn't try it again though.
:) Good Luck, KDi in TX
Posted by chase9 on February 12, 2004, at 18:47:02
In reply to Re: Anyone NOT had trouble getting off this med? » sheri, posted by Clayton on February 7, 2004, at 21:43:52
I have been on 37mg for two weeks went up to 75mg for 4 days and was really depressed and ful of anxiety went back down to 37 and am going off it either makes me feel nothing or too much .any other experiances like mine.
Posted by Susan115 on February 13, 2004, at 0:43:02
In reply to Re: Anyone NOT had trouble getting off this med?, posted by chase9 on February 12, 2004, at 18:47:02
Dudes- I am totally pissed that no one mentioned the severe symptoms that may accompany withdrawl. I was placed onto Effexor, against my better judgement and although my intuition advised me against it, because I have Hypothyroidism due to an Auto-Immune Disease. I do not have depression.... and I do not have anxiety. I have low energy due to my disease and also because I work at a high-impact physical job. HOWEVER.... Like most physicians I have encountered.... my doctor was adamant that I "....must be suffering from depression because you are tired and wish to stay in bed..." uhhhhh??? First of all, I feel that it is a degradation to depression/anxiety sufferers to be written off so simply as people who "just wish to stay in bed". It is the sufferers DESIRE to reclaim the selves that they "see" inside of them and to regain the ability and power to return back to their lives... that is their wish. The wish is not to remain in bed, although, like myself, is where we normally end up because we feel...like....crap!
BE WARNED and BE INFORMED..... As a collective whole we Do Not Feel Good.... unfortunately we have to depend on other PEOPLE to make us feel better. (Isn't THAT in itself a loss of self-empowerment?) We depend on other people to prescribe to us.... MAN-MADE pills. Think about prescription drugs from their "flip side".... WE as people have no idea what is used to manufacture these pills... their ingredients... etc...etc... They twist our mentality and inhibit our "sensors". Is this so different from using narcotics and becoming hooked? It's all man-made... and it is difficult to trust what you cannot see.
Be informed of the withdrawl symptoms... I advised my doctor in December that I was to be removed from my Effexor treatment because I no longer felt like myself. I had no change in my energy levels, however I did notice a change in my creativity. I could no longer cry, write songs, feel passion, paint pictures, feel compassion towards others, play guitar.... I felt nothing. So, I did the systematic half-steps and I have been Effexor free for 2 weeks now.
Unfortunately, I am now coming face to face, blow to blow with withdrawl symptoms. Severe electric shocks (imagine placing a bare "live" wire to your head every 30 seconds) mild seizures, blackouts and to be honest... I'm feeling pretty pissed off. (I think the man-made term for that is "hypomania"...at least that's what they WANT you to think... because, hey- it's one more thing that they can treat, right? ... it's all just money in the bank to them) I left my keys in the ignition of my car with the battery turned on while I was at work today and I also ran into a co-worker's leg while I was operating some "heavy machinery". Wouldn't that be ENOUGH to piss a person off? Do we really need to be called "hypo-manic"?!?
Look- I firmly believe that this medication works for many people out there. I believe that if you are seeking an inhibitor to assist and ease symptoms, then by all means, you should work with your doctor to find the correct and best treatment for you. However ... BE INFORMED... You are your own best ADVOCATE. Research a chemical drug and THEN decide if it is what's best for you. Don't allow a doctor who is in reception of bonuses from drug companies to decide for YOU.
God Bless... and wishes for you to find peace of mind.
Posted by Holly333 on February 13, 2004, at 20:20:04
In reply to Re: Anyone NOT had trouble getting off this med?, posted by platinumbride on February 8, 2004, at 14:50:31
I was on effexor xr 75mg twice a day, for about 4 months (on 75mg a day for another 6 months before that). Have now been off, seemingly problem free, for about 3 months (now, just the weight to sort out!!!)
Another post here suggested, as I was on the xr capsules, to literally reduce by one 'granule' per day, which worked OK. I was lucky, I had flu or something horrible, and was able to stop teh night time dose 'cold turkey' without any noticeable side effects, as I felt like death anyway!! (not recommended!! :) ) I then reduced the remaining 75mg dose granule by granule.
If yr on non xr tablets this might not be quite so straightforward, but perhaps shaving bits off with a knife would allow you to reduce slowly enough. Another possibility, again another post from here, suggested waiting till the dizziness etc struck, then taking a v small amount of granules (or bits of tablet?), just enough to counteract the problems experienced. I don't personally like this idea, but it may work for you, or at least help if you find it too difficult to accurately reduce the tablets. I do hope this is some help.
Posted by Judie on February 15, 2004, at 10:59:26
In reply to Major withdrawl symptoms, posted by Susan115 on February 13, 2004, at 0:43:02
I am stopping effexor xr after 6 months, because I , too felt "flat-lined"... like I wasn't depressed, but I felt no joy or passion in anything I did, either. My doctor (GP) wanted to double my dose, but I can't see how that would fix my problem. I want to feel SOMETHING, just not suicidal! My last dose was 2 days ago. I'd been taking 75 mgs. a day. When I woke up so dizzy today, I started hunting on the internet for some info and I'm thrilled I found this site. Looks like I'd better taper off instead of going cold turkey. I dumped half of the granules out of a capsule and I'm going to try that every day for a week. I don't want to drag this out too long, but I have to be able to function. Scares me that folks are having withdrawel symptoms AFTER two weeks of quitting!! Somebody PLEASE post a success story for getting off this stuff!
Posted by BJlass on February 15, 2004, at 15:44:42
In reply to Major withdrawl symptoms, posted by Susan115 on February 13, 2004, at 0:43:02
It took me about 6 months to taper off Effexor!!! These damn pharmaceutical co's and some doctors don't tell you this! It's outrageous and they ALL should be sued!
I still have this weird feeling in the middle of my forehead -- and I've been off it over a year now. I can't explain it -- but it's like my body is "craving" the drug. Maybe I've changed my neurotransmittors permanently!
Please think carefully before you take serotonin enhancing drugs. The mfr's don't even understand exactly what they do to your brain! Are we permanently rewiring ourselves??!!
Posted by bristol on February 15, 2004, at 16:10:15
In reply to Re: Major withdrawl symptoms, posted by Judie on February 15, 2004, at 10:59:26
Oh My God - DO NOT STOP COLD TURKEY and I DON'T THINK you're supposed to break the capsules up! You need to talk to your doctor and get the 37.5 mg capsules to taper yourself off the right way. You should only go down a max of 37.5 increments and then be on it for a while.
I almost killed myself by tapering too fast and I was on 225mg of Effexor - I ended up in ER and was unconscious for over an hour. Now I'm suffering from a bronchial infection and inflamed vocal chords b/c of the breathing tubes they stuck down my throat. Effexor makes you suicidal - Be careful with the drug.
Posted by Althea8869 on February 15, 2004, at 17:53:04
In reply to Major withdrawl symptoms, posted by Susan115 on February 13, 2004, at 0:43:02
Chase9, Your closing is right on the money. In this day and age we all have access, in one form or another, to information about these medications - possible side effects, interactions, etc. This ISNT to say that significant changes arent needed in both the testing/reporting/oversight and prescribing phase, but for the interested and inclined, doing the research, i would wager, will improve your chances for success.
Posted by contemplative1 on February 15, 2004, at 18:59:38
In reply to Trade Effexor of Paxil??, posted by Clayton on February 10, 2004, at 2:21:35
Paxil pooped out on me and I went to Prozac with great success and it also helped minimize the withdrawals from Paxil which contrary to your fortunate experience was absolutely dreadful.
> I guess I'm a freek, too. I take Paxil (40mg/day) and had quit cold turkey several times with NO adverse side-effects at all. I have also restarted it after several months at the 40 mg dose (no titration upward) without ill effects.
>
> I realize Paxil is not Effexor, but it seems to have the next "best" reputation for problems with withdrawl symptoms insing "Brain Zaps"s, according the the posts I've read on this board.
>
> So why am I immune to these negative effects?
>
> It's enough to make me want to try Effexor to see if I am immnune to those side-effects, too. My recklesss intuition tell me I well may be.
>
> Paxil is beginning to poop out and I may need a new AD soon. Any advive on this bizarre notion of mine? (Trade Pazil for Effexor)?
Posted by justjustine on February 16, 2004, at 12:59:10
In reply to Re: Major withdrawl symptoms, posted by Judie on February 15, 2004, at 10:59:26
i'm 6 weeks off effexor and still feeling the withdrawals, although much much muted from what they were. i mean i was able to stop taking the vicodin a week ago, right?
i tapered to a point by pouring off the capsules, worked fine for me. i went faster than one granule a day - those little white pellets are quite small. and there's still a bunch of them stuck in the cracks in my wood floor (makes me sick to see them).
once i got myself to about 75mg, i saw the doc and he said "go to 37.5 for a week, then you should be able to stop."
holy moly was he ever wrong. and it's damaged our relationship because i don't trust him anymore. i was sick, sick, sick for over a month. all the doctors say is it must be because of something else - the vicodin, the xanax, because i refused the serzone that wasn't doing a darn thing to ease the withdrawal sickness, etc. etc. or maybe i had the flu for a whole month - a really weird flu with no fever!
for me, it worked out better to accept that i was going to be too sick to do anything for a while than it would have been to drag it out longer. but that's me.
note: chairman mao said he stopped effexor by using amphetamines, but i never got clarification on how that worked for him. (?)
here's a weblink on SSRI withdrawal you might find interesting:
http://www.fpnotebook.com/PSY169.htmand here's the 'treatment' they recommend:
--------------------------
Management: Specific Withdrawal SymptomsCholinergic rebound symptoms (See above)
Atropine 0.8 mg PO tid to qid
Cogentin 0.5 to 4 mg PO qd
Artane 1-4 mg PO tid to qid
Donnatal 2 tablets PO tid-qidAnxiety
Lorazepam 0.5 to 1 mg PO tid prnDizziness
Antivert 12.5 to 25 mg PO q6 hours prn
Dramamine 50 mg PO q6 hours prn
---------------------huh well i got through on vicodin, marijuana, ambien, and the occassional xanax. to each their own.
you WILL get through!!!
> I am stopping effexor xr after 6 months, because I , too felt "flat-lined"... like I wasn't depressed, but I felt no joy or passion in anything I did, either. My doctor (GP) wanted to double my dose, but I can't see how that would fix my problem. I want to feel SOMETHING, just not suicidal! My last dose was 2 days ago. I'd been taking 75 mgs. a day. When I woke up so dizzy today, I started hunting on the internet for some info and I'm thrilled I found this site. Looks like I'd better taper off instead of going cold turkey. I dumped half of the granules out of a capsule and I'm going to try that every day for a week. I don't want to drag this out too long, but I have to be able to function. Scares me that folks are having withdrawel symptoms AFTER two weeks of quitting!! Somebody PLEASE post a success story for getting off this stuff!
Posted by Judie on February 16, 2004, at 13:28:10
In reply to weight gain???, posted by poochi on February 11, 2004, at 11:38:27
I gained lots of weight while I was on effexor (75 mgs/day for 6 mos.) But I don't think it was the drug as much as my apathy about everything while I was on it. Does that make sense? I mean it didn't make me hungry... I just didn't have much passion or resolve about sticking to a diet. Now that I'm trying to get off, I'm eating more because my head and stomach feel weird... like I'll be sick if I don't have something in my stomach. They list anorexia as a possible symptom while you're on it AND while you're withdrawing... no such luck for me!!
Posted by PixieEm on February 16, 2004, at 13:31:42
In reply to Re: Trade Effexor of Paxil??, posted by contemplative1 on February 15, 2004, at 18:59:38
Hey guys, I am having some serious problems right now. I could really use some help, if anyone can... I was originally put on A/D for a totally different reason... I have endometriosis and my OBGyn prescribed Lexapro for pain reduction. I later went to a GP and he told me that he thought Effexor XR would be a much better choice for me considering my history of sleep problems, migraines, drug sensitivity, and supposed fibromyalgia. WRONG!!! Yes, when I first started taking the Effexor it was not too bad as long as I took it everyday at the same time, but if I am a few hours late I started getting nausea, dizziness, sleeplessness, brain shivers, etc. I now know about the withdrawals, (through posts such as this), and I am scared to death to quit taking it. The 300mg effexor did nothing for the pain that it was prescribed for, and now I am just as tired when taking it as I was before I started. My relationship is really suffering from my lack of emotions and my nonexistant sex drive. I WANT TO GET OFF IT!!! What do I do? I have tried cold turkey and had such bad "brain shivers" that I could not leave my house. Driving was impossible. With much hardship I have managed to get down to 150 mg now, but that has taken 2 months. I am a student in my last semester of my senior year of college. I can't miss class. Funny enough, I am also a psychology major. Never heard anything about bad about effexor from my doctors. Wish I had known about this. I would have never taken it. I know it has helped some people, and I am happy for ya'll, but this is miserable for me. If anyone knows anything that will help relieve this pain, please let me know.
Last thing... I have thought about a malpractice lawsuit. I have no idea if I would even have a case. I just don't think that the doctor should have prescribed me a med without telling me about it. But at the same time, I don't know if it would be the doctor's fault, or the drug company's fault. All I know is that I feel like I have been wronged. I would like to be able to make informed decisions regarding any substance entering my body. Thanks!!!!~Emily
Posted by Minnie-Haha on February 16, 2004, at 15:52:39
In reply to hypomania, posted by Lyrical13 on January 5, 2004, at 22:22:46
> You can also have mixed states where you're depressed and agitated. depression with GAD is often confused with BP2 because they can look the same...in reality it's not depression with anxiety..it's a mixed state of BP...depression with an agitated or hyperaroused state. I believe my pdoc said that BP2 is mostly depression with some hypomania. <
Your post kind of ran together here. Have you read that depression with GAD can be misdiagnosed as BP2? If so, can you point me toward your source? This is the aregument I have been having with my current pdoc. That maybe my original DX was wrong, but I can't get her to budge.
Posted by Salty_Dog on February 16, 2004, at 17:12:01
In reply to Major withdrawl symptoms, posted by Susan115 on February 13, 2004, at 0:43:02
Withdrawl from Effexor XR does not have to be painfull. I was able to withdraw from 600 mg Effexor XR (7 Months) in two weeks time by using Lexapro. Of course I would be remise if I didn't mention that I was an in-patient at an Acute Psychiatric Services unit. I could sleep and do what I needed to do to get off of the Effexor XR. I need to go now, I will post a longer response latter.
Posted by HSP on February 16, 2004, at 17:49:32
In reply to Re: Major withdrawl symptoms, posted by BJlass on February 15, 2004, at 15:44:42
> It took me about 6 months to taper off Effexor!!! These damn pharmaceutical co's and some doctors don't tell you this! It's outrageous and they ALL should be sued!
>
> I still have this weird feeling in the middle of my forehead -- and I've been off it over a year now. I can't explain it -- but it's like my body is "craving" the drug. Maybe I've changed my neurotransmittors permanently!
>I'm having the same problem with Paxil... I've been on for 11 years. Trying to get off it by going on Remeron and titrating down on the Paxil once Remeron reaches steady state. I get the same exact feeling that you do, however. I still have to give myself 2.5mg of Paxil every couple of days because my brain feels like it's lacking something.... this aside from the ocassional vertigo.
> Please think carefully before you take serotonin enhancing drugs. The mfr's don't even understand exactly what they do to your brain! Are we permanently rewiring ourselves??!!
>
>
>
>
Go forward in thread:
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.