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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by BeckyMc on April 20, 2005, at 7:56:57
I've been on 150mg per day for the last 3 years and have done well. Recently I lost my insurance and cannot afford the prescription anymore. I'm on day 4 of no meds and am experiencing several withdrawl symptoms. Dizzy whenever I move my head, spaced out feeling at times, bizzare dreams, light sensitivity, feeling very cold. I'm going to try to tough it out but am wondering how long this will last. Does anyone have any experience with this?
Posted by xxNightOwl28 on April 20, 2005, at 7:56:57
In reply to Effexor XR withdrawl, posted by BeckyMc on April 17, 2005, at 0:00:20
OMG I have been on 150mg xr for 3 years as well, I am interesting in knowing how it is going for you now, the first day how was it going? etc please tell me your story of the first 24 hours, I wanna know so I know what to expect.
Did Effexor make yout sleepy, drowsy, foggy, I am so tired of yawning during the day, scratching my eyes and drinking tons of coffee to stay energized, I just have had enough of the drowsiness, what was your time like????
Posted by nicky77 on April 20, 2005, at 7:56:58
In reply to Effexor XR withdrawl, posted by BeckyMc on April 17, 2005, at 0:00:20
If you are on day four of cold turkey my suggestion would be stick with it. I've gone cold turkey on effexor 150mg twice, and after day number five the withdrawl symptoms subsided. Hope it works out!
Nick
ps. I'm amazed that it's even possible to loose your insurance in some parts western society. How does this work?
Posted by Phillipa on April 20, 2005, at 7:56:58
In reply to Re: Effexor XR withdrawl, posted by nicky77 on April 17, 2005, at 8:05:21
It's getting harder and harder to get insurance. The costs are higher and the companies keep cutting back. If you change jobs, you can keep your insurance for l8mths and pay about $700 a month. If you can afford it. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Dizzy in Dixie on April 22, 2005, at 8:47:43
In reply to Re: Effexor XR withdrawl, posted by nicky77 on April 17, 2005, at 8:05:21
> If you are on day four of cold turkey my suggestion would be stick with it. I've gone cold turkey on effexor 150mg twice, and after day number five the withdrawl symptoms subsided. Hope it works out!
>
> NickPlease tell me how in the world you survive 5 days? I don't have 5 days that I can just shut down and sleep so it is the tapering method for me!!!
~Dizzy
Posted by KarmicJustice on April 27, 2005, at 22:36:15
In reply to Re: Effexor XR withdrawl, posted by Dizzy in Dixie on April 22, 2005, at 8:47:43
I am on day 5 of nearly cold-turkey, and I am *miserable*. I thought that (a) because going on the drug was a piece of cake and (b) that it didn't seem to be effective in doing anything for me besides make me an insomniac and gain 40+ pounds in a year, that it wouldn't be hard to quit. WRONG-O!
I am having the whole hit parade of withdrawal nasties -- extreme nausea with extreme appetite, hot/cold flashes, dizziness, the little man in corduroy pants who seem to run from one side of my head to the other whenever I move my eyes (this is the best way I can describe the "zzt zzzt zzt" sensation of the brain zaps). Any suggestions on whether to call psych doc and ask for some Prozac or 37.5mg? I can't see myself counting out grains of Effexor, since it seems like the slow taper isn't all that fantastic either. I know going down from 150 to 75 to zip in two short weeks was a bit hasty, but after going through this crap really don't want to prolong the withdrawal after coming this far already.
Posted by Dizzy in Dixie on April 28, 2005, at 7:31:54
In reply to Re: Effexor XR withdrawl, posted by KarmicJustice on April 27, 2005, at 22:36:15
I still hand it to you for surviving 5 days of cold turkey! I am still tapering myself and wondering when I will have the guts to let go because I still take a dose (tiny) when I feel the withdrawals coming on! I feel so bad anyway that I just cant imagine trying to get through the day with full-fledged withdrawals! I chose not to get any supplemental drugs for this process. I have re-thought this and decided I am having a hard enough time coming off one drug, I just dont want to have to go through withdrawals--of any kind--from another drug! And to think, I weaned from Prozac to Effexor! I still live for the day when I am taking nothing at all and my brain no longer zaps!
~Dizzy
Posted by canadiangirl3 on April 28, 2005, at 12:31:54
In reply to Re: Effexor XR withdrawl, posted by KarmicJustice on April 27, 2005, at 22:36:15
Hey Karmic,
I loved your explanation of the brain zaps:) I did the taper-thing and had similar experiences until I introduced 20mg of Prozac a day. It was a small miracle. I was able to taper off the Effexor from 150mg to zero in a few weeks and had absolutely none of the nightmarish symptoms described by folks. (Although I did have very mild mini brain zaps- but it didn't freak me out because I knew what it was attributed to) I've been effexor free now for about three weeks and am happy to report that the brain zaps have disappeared.
I check the babble board every now and again only to try to convince people of the benefits of a small dose of Prozac. I think the counting of grains and granules is craziness! I am far too busy to organize myself to do that. Also I could not have lasted taking the different doses at hourly intervals. Anyway, I just wanted to share my experience and spread the word. Good Luck!
Posted by Dizzy in Dixie on April 28, 2005, at 12:48:21
In reply to Re: Effexor XR withdrawl, posted by canadiangirl3 on April 28, 2005, at 12:31:54
> Hey Karmic,
> I loved your explanation of the brain zaps:) I did the taper-thing and had similar experiences until I introduced 20mg of Prozac a day.....Ok. Help. IF I break down and ask for Prozac, how do I get off of that? When will I know I can get off of it???? Also, do you just keep tapering the Effexor or what? I just want off with as few brain zaps, confusion, etc. as possible!!!
~~Dizzy in Dixie (tired of being Dizzy!)
Posted by KarmicJustice on April 29, 2005, at 0:19:08
In reply to Re: Effexor XR withdrawl, posted by canadiangirl3 on April 28, 2005, at 12:31:54
Thanks for the support - if I had to do it all over again, Prozac would have definitely been the way to go.
For anyone who is about to embark on this (or to try to explain to people what this feels like) the best I can come up with is this is like getting drunk in reverse. Once the hot flashes and intense nausea began to subside last night the crazy crying jag started. It wasn't a "my life is horrible" type thing - quite the opposite! I was halfway to calling people (like my high school boyfriend who dumped me 15 years ago, etc.) to tell them how beautiful the world is and how all is forgiven and we're all just one big organism called Life that is re-experiencing itself over and over again and that there is no good or bad or right or wrong, just different and that's the genius of God and hey, man, we should like, hug each other more and maybe kids wouldn't be killing themselves and....." Weird Weird Weird.
But then I started to throw up so it sorta put the kibosh on that.
(If you knew me, you'd know how completely *not* me this is. When I'm not puking my guts out on Effexor withdrawal I am an attorney who defends big Pharma in products liability cases -- hence the nickname KarmicJustice!!)
*thoughts, prayers, and good vibrations to everyone on here...knowing this too shall pass has made it slightly more bearable...*
Posted by canadiangirl3 on April 29, 2005, at 11:21:13
In reply to Re: Effexor XR withdrawl, posted by Dizzy in Dixie on April 28, 2005, at 12:48:21
Hi Dizzy,
Prozac has a half life of five weeks. I think that means it stays in your blood for five weeks so that if you miss a day ( ie for withdrawal purposes) you don't get the crazy w/d symptoms. I am just now starting to come off Prozac. I'm doing every other day at 20mg. My therapist MD says that if that isn't working for me you can get Prozac in liquid form and we can taper the dose in much smaller increments. Today I didn't take my 20mg of Prozac and I am feeling just as I was yesterday ( except a little happier because it's Friday). I have to say I was like you- very strong in my position not to 'breakdown' and fiddle with another drug. But I have to tell you it made getting off the Effexor SO MUCH EASIER. And no more brain zaps!!! Good Luck and talk it over with a doctor.
Posted by meliss337 on May 5, 2005, at 18:10:53
In reply to Re: Effexor XR withdrawl, posted by canadiangirl3 on April 29, 2005, at 11:21:13
Hi,
I'm sort of in the same position, or will be - I started going down from 150 mg almost 3 weeks ago and today was the first day I've taken 75 mg. And other than being EXTREMELY emotional (like, overreacting/crying to bad things, and also insane happy crying), and occasional dizzniness, so far I've been okay (knock on wood). So I figure on this track, in a month or so, I'll be at a (very) small dose. If my Dr actually *gives* me the Prozac, and then it has a half-life of 5 weeks (good LORD, what a difference from effexor)... how long should I keep taking it? I know you're not a doctor, but, just a question...
Also - if you know - see, my doctor I assume is pretty much ignorant when it comes to this (she told me to go down to 75 directly from 150, stay there for a week or so, and then stop taking it completely). WOuld you suggest printing out documents from this site, or others, that recommend the Prozac-adding tapering off approach, or something?
thanks in advance!
Melissa
Posted by canadiangirl3 on May 6, 2005, at 14:01:11
In reply to Re: Effexor XR withdrawl » canadiangirl3, posted by meliss337 on May 5, 2005, at 18:10:53
Hi Melissa,
My doctor/shrink (whom I;ve been with for ten years)has actually really looked into this for me. The latest word in the pharma-psychiatry circles is to add in the Prozac while tapering the Effexor withdrawal. I guess you can ask your doctor to do the research, ie the New England Medical Journal etc or to contact other doctors who have this as an area of expertise for a recommendation.(I think doctors do that, don't they? I know lawyers do.) Doctors are suppossed to listen to the their patients. So if you've told her that you WANT to add in Prozac than I would hope that she might listen to you or give you a medical reason why it would be detrimental. Printing out some postings might not be a bad idea as well.
I'm currently on 20mg of Prozac every other day. I guess I will soon go down to every three days etc until I stop completely. I've started exercising again and am doing weight watchers to lose the extra weight I put on. I feel like I am slowly returning to my old self. Good luck with your tapering. I hope you can be effexor-free by summer!
Daphne
Posted by minicher on May 16, 2005, at 18:34:06
In reply to Effexor XR withdrawl, posted by BeckyMc on April 17, 2005, at 0:00:20
Hello,
I've just joined this today-hope someone can help me with some questions. I have been on effexor for about five years or so having tried a multitude of other anti-depressants-prozac, paxil, wellbutrin, luvox. then we tried Effexor which seemed to work well in the beginning-I guess my GP started me at 75mg. a day or so, but over the past five years as the effect of it has decreased, she has increased me to 375 a day which seems quite high to me. A couple of years ago I started to have "highs" along with the depression and she told me I had probably developed bipolar because of the "high dose " of effexor I was on. Since then I have tried lithium carbonate and lithium, both of which caused major abdominal upset. Then she put me on depakote along with the effexor and I am up to 1500 mg a day of that too. I am starting to feel that old flatness to my thinkiing and crying jags along with bad temper. I don't think she knows what she is doing. I have gained about 50 pounds in five years and the sweating from the effexor is horrible. I think that if I don't feel well on this amount of meds I never will. I would rather taper off everything slowly and see if I can find some coping strategies without the meds. I am going to a consult with her tomorrow and wondered if any of you have any advice? Do you think that 375mgs. of effexor is high? It seems that it is from what I have seen on websites.thanks,
Minicher
Posted by TO_Girl on May 20, 2005, at 21:28:43
In reply to Re: Effexor XR withdrawl, posted by minicher on May 16, 2005, at 18:34:06
Sorry, no solutions for you - I am seeking answers myself.
I've been on Effexor XR at 250mg for about 2 1/2 years in combination with Wellbutrin SR at 150mg.
To prepare for a "new cocktail" as my dr and psychotherapist like to call it, I had to stop taking the Effexor. Over the course of 7 days I went from the 250 to 0 but am still on the Wellbutrin. This is absolute HELL!
I'm a very active person (despite the weight gain while on effexor xr) and for the past 72 hours I can barely get up out of a chair without feeling that "falling" sensation. This sensation keeps happening with increasing frequency - esp. when I move my eyes left or right. The zzz zzz noises just started this morning and are now exceptionally loud. I'm also experiencing chills this evening.
My drs said that if I feel any "neurological" effects, I should go to the emergency room right away...what would that do other than waste umpteen hours of time...time I could be at home feeling the same way. (in Ontario the wait time in emerg rooms for non critical could be up to 5+ hours on a "good night").
What can I do to ease these symptoms on my own? Suggestions please!!
Thanks - next time I won't be so wordy :o)
-TO_Girl
Posted by xdreamgrl on June 12, 2005, at 16:50:14
In reply to Re: Effexor XR withdrawl, posted by TO_Girl on May 20, 2005, at 21:28:43
Thank you, thank you, thank you . . .I just found all of you today! I am on my third day without (150mgs) of Effexor and I honestly didn't know what the heck was going on. I have never had any withdrawl symptoms from the various drugs I have taken in the past. Ever! I am literaly fighting to stay awake and ZZZZT! ZZZZT! I just figured out this morning that it was my eyes looking from right to left making that sound. I thought someone in plastic pants was quickly running from one corner of my room to the other. I can't believe I wasn't told about the possiblity of this happening. Good Lord! I am extremely agry with my doc and as soon as I can thrust my body out of bed and walk across the room, I am going to give her a piece of my mind!
Thank you soooo much. Y'all really helped someone today!
xdreamgrl
This is the end of the thread.
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