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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by mcjd on September 26, 2008, at 17:26:46
I am in my 4th week on this med now and don't like it at all. The worst side effect I'm having is the extreme tiredness. I feel like I've been hit by a mac truck!
I just called my doc and made an appointment for next week right after my first psyciatrist visit (who is the one who wanted me on this drug) and I am going to tell both the doc and the shrink I want off this med. Now after reading more about it, it scares the ,,,out of me that I've even been on it for the short time that I have!!
my question is: can I expect severe side effects when quitting?
I was on citalopram and was told to stop taking it, take nothing for a week and then start the new meds. At that time I had the brain zaps, I thought of them as sparklers being set off in my brain all the time, and the crying all the time. If this will be the same I can handle it.
Posted by azalea on September 26, 2008, at 17:31:33
In reply to going to come off effexor after 4 weeks, posted by mcjd on September 26, 2008, at 17:26:46
Some people have a difficult time with Effexor discontinuation. Others have no symptoms. The key is gradual decrease in dose. There are also reports of adding Prozac to minimize the discontinuation syndrome. How many milligrams of Effexor are you currently taking?
> I am in my 4th week on this med now and don't like it at all. The worst side effect I'm having is the extreme tiredness. I feel like I've been hit by a mac truck!
>
> I just called my doc and made an appointment for next week right after my first psyciatrist visit (who is the one who wanted me on this drug) and I am going to tell both the doc and the shrink I want off this med. Now after reading more about it, it scares the ,,,out of me that I've even been on it for the short time that I have!!
>
> my question is: can I expect severe side effects when quitting?
> I was on citalopram and was told to stop taking it, take nothing for a week and then start the new meds. At that time I had the brain zaps, I thought of them as sparklers being set off in my brain all the time, and the crying all the time. If this will be the same I can handle it.
Posted by Phillipa on September 26, 2008, at 17:33:50
In reply to going to come off effexor after 4 weeks, posted by mcjd on September 26, 2008, at 17:26:46
Welcome to babble you might want to check the withdrawal board many people who have taken effexor and their expeiences going off the med. Good luck. Phillipa
Posted by bleauberry on September 26, 2008, at 18:04:22
In reply to going to come off effexor after 4 weeks, posted by mcjd on September 26, 2008, at 17:26:46
Effexor has strong reputation of being about the worst for withdrawals. A month on it is long enough to cause difficulty getting off. If your dose is low that should make it easier.
Tricks you can do...
Ask for a couple 10mg doses of prozac and take them a few days apart. The long living prozac will smooth out the withdrawal period. Get lowest dose effexor in capsule form. Empty out the beads inside of it to take custom sized doses. This way you can go from 37.5mg to roughly 30mg to roughly 25mg and so on. Much better than cold turkey. Just sprinkle your chosen amount of beads on applesauce and swallow.
Posted by mcjd on September 26, 2008, at 19:02:41
In reply to Re: going to come off effexor after 4 weeks, posted by bleauberry on September 26, 2008, at 18:04:22
I'm on 150mg total, 75mg in the am and 75mg with supper.
My doctor gave me clonazepram to take while getting used to this med and might want me to take the same when coming off. that might help, no?
I want to go back onto the citalopram.
Posted by Phillipa on September 26, 2008, at 19:53:36
In reply to Re: going to come off effexor after 4 weeks, posted by mcjd on September 26, 2008, at 19:02:41
The advice given is what is usually recommended. Love Phillipa
Posted by azalea on September 26, 2008, at 20:25:37
In reply to Re: going to come off effexor after 4 weeks, posted by mcjd on September 26, 2008, at 19:02:41
Is that Effexor XR or regular Effexor?
If you're going back to the citalopram, you could consider a cross-titration, gradually decreasing Effexor while gradually increasing citalopram.> I'm on 150mg total, 75mg in the am and 75mg with supper.
>
> My doctor gave me clonazepram to take while getting used to this med and might want me to take the same when coming off. that might help, no?
>
> I want to go back onto the citalopram.
Posted by bleauberry on September 29, 2008, at 17:22:59
In reply to going to come off effexor after 4 weeks, posted by mcjd on September 26, 2008, at 17:26:46
Going back to celexa? Well, as the previous poster said, that makes this thing a lot easier. Just do a cross taper. You do not, and should not, need to get off effexor before starting celexa. Decrease one while introducing the other. There will still be some withdrawals and side effects, but should be a lot less.
Posted by BearFan on October 4, 2008, at 20:06:18
In reply to Re: going to come off effexor after 4 weeks, posted by bleauberry on September 29, 2008, at 17:22:59
4 weeks on Effexor XR is probably not enough to cause serious withdrawals. If you were on the 75mg version, probably just a weekly taper of 37.5 mg every other day would be sufficient. Perhaps even easier if you are going to try another med.
Posted by mcjd on October 4, 2008, at 22:31:42
In reply to Re: going to come off effexor after 4 weeks, posted by BearFan on October 4, 2008, at 20:06:18
I've been off effexor for 6 days now and back on citalopram.
though I was only on the 75mg twice a day, I did have brain zaps, zaps behind the eyes, incredible headaches and my scalp felt like it had a bad sun burn. The symptoms only lasted 4 days so that wasn't all that bad.Today I went to my pharmacy and handed them the remainder of the effexor pills and asked them to please dispose of them for me. Felt soo good :)
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