Effexor withdrawl and symptoms, please help _{Page 131 of 140}

Ejb199jsd,

I too have been having itching. But, I thought my skin is getting dryer and that I am aging.

Regarding drinking, I craved way more when I was on the E. I hardly have any desire for it. I also think L-tryptophan (One of the highly recommended amino acids in the Mood Cure book) has something to do with it.

I have been exercising for 2 weeks now. It seems to be helping my mood. The confident thing is another thing that I too deal with. I think the weight gain, and not having energy has a lot to do with it too.

The memory and the slow motions don’t help either.

I was talking to my psychologist. She said that 70% of people when they become depressed would need to be on the med for only 9 months. Because the depression’s life span is 9 months. I just don’t know why no damn doctor of mine ever questioned how long I had been on them. She also said that the other 30% may need to take it for a long time.

Twisi and AnneT,

It is great that you are exercising. The orthopedic doctor told me that I may have Fibromyalgia. Though he admitted that he does not know how to diagnose it correctly, he gave me Lyrica (which I read up on and decided not to take it). After seeing the Rheumatologist, he told me that it is not Fibromyalgia; and, I am glad I did not take another brain altering medicine.

One thing I have learned from this experience is to not take the meds as quickly as the doctor’s prescribe them. And, to ask lots of questions from the doctors when they give me diagnosis.

Twisi,

Hang in there. A marriage counselor may be able to help your husband better understand what you are going through and to be more understanding of your moods. It helped me.

When I was going through my hardship a couple months back, the only other female who cared was AnneT. It is nice to see more of us on this website and able to support each other.


Marty,

Thanks for all the support.

Anne T:

I was on 300 mg for longer than I care to admit --- and that was for hot flashes. It helped with them, but i gained an enormous amount of weight and drank too heavily. I am down to almost my good weight - (another 10 to go). I have been off for almost 8 months. I do not sleep well. I have to take melatonin or something to help - otherwise Im awake all night. I participated in a sleep study and they found nothing wrong.

Im at my wits end. My marriage is falling apart, I lost my job and I can't sleep. Now I find out I have high cholesterol - which I have NEVER had. I still force myself to go to the gym, but outside of that and my photography, Im lost.

I don't feel at all like the person that existed pre-Effexor and I worry she will ever return.

Getting my husband to a counselor will be tricky. He is more than likely to say no.

Have a good one. Chicago beats the Saints! Go BEars.

AnneT - you asked why i was put on effexor - here is a bit of background:

I suffer from emetophobia which means fear of vomiting - or phobia of vomiting. it literally impacts every single day and has done since i was about 4 or 5. im now 28. i constantly worry about being sick, catching bugs, eating something bad. because of that, i am underweight, hardly eat, am bordering OCD with cleanliness - its basically a right pain in the bum to live with. my doctor back in 2001 put me on effexor and i blindly took it. when i started asking doctors about coming off it, i was told 'do you need to? some people need it forever' - yeah right - coz they cant get off!!!!

Twisi - i echo your feelings of anger with wyeth, crappy doctors putting us on this and just a general lack of understanding it seems with medical 'professionals'. i guess i have just acceppted now tho that im off it and there isnt much i can do in terms of getting back at wyeth or the doc who repscribed it to me. i stopped coming here and looking up info on it coz it was just making me madder and madder!

reason im back now is there is another person on one of my forums about the vomit phobia and she is on the evil E too. i wanted to give her as much help and links to useful sites liek this one that i could! that led me to popping back on here and then i started reading some of the posts for people off the E but still having probs - now im mad again! :-) the thing i get most peed off about is how can a doctor put someone with a vomit phobia on such a god awful drug like effexor!!!! and we all know how sick and nauseas it made us feel getting off it - it really was hell for me. being sick and feeling sick isnt nice for anyone but when you are blinking phobic of it, it makes it so much worse!

Twisi, i also echo your feelings of irritability, snappiness with husband etc. i find i am much more snappy and just 'off' alot of the time. i am very impatient too with things.

anyways, lets all try and stay strong and support each other. i saw the online petition has reached over 19K of names now - was at 14K when i signed i think.

Em xx

oh and just one about alcohol. im def not an addict or anything but tend to have a glass or 2 of white wine most evenings. i find it relaxes me and helps with the vomit phobia (lol i know my limits with alcohol!) and even helps me to eat a meal in the evening too if i have a drink with it. i spoke to my doctor about this and she actually said to carry on having a glass or two - shed rather that calm me down than prescribe me with xanax/valium (which i asked her for shortly before my wedding and she said nope - pleased she did now coz they can be awfully addictive it seems).

anyways, must crack on with work!

eib199jsd,
I Have been off of effexor since August 21, and I had horrible itching problem that started when I started lowering my doses of effexor. It was only on my legs though and I would itch so bad sometimes I would scratch too hard or long and end up making myself bleed. It usually only happened at night which seems kinda weird. Anyway it has almost completely went away, but I do have some places on my legs that I have scars from scratching, but since the itching has stopped I will not worry about scars and just happy about the itching being gone.

Bernadette

Bernadette;

MY itching patterns were like yours. But, I still have them every few nights.

ebjb199jsd,

What a good doctor you have. one or 2 glass of wine in not bad at all.

Hey, I didn't know about the petition. But, I found it and signed it just now.

I am in my seventh week without Effexor. My Doctor took me from 150 mg to nothing and in week three in detox she offered to put me on a lower dose of Effexor. That meant that there would be more to get out of my system so I haven't taken her up on it. Now it's different than being in week 2 or 3, but I still suffer from headaches , nausea and DIARRHEA. I have read that by month three some of you are feeling better with the symptoms. Does anyone know much about Cymbalta and how it does in your body.
Abbey

Hi All,
I haven't checked in for the last week - I injured my hip/back shovelling snow about 12 days ago. It was so painful, I thought I'd broken something, but it is 'just' a lower back muscle strain, but the pain that is worse is from the trigger point radiation to my quad. So sometimes I couldn't flex or extend my hip. I was grateful for Percocet, because it calmed it down to the pain level where I can do some stretches (McKenzie exercises, and somatics which are extremely helpful). Hope I don't have to go through withdrawal from the Percocet!!
So, I've stayed at the 6 mg/day of Effexor for now. Winter always plummets my mood anyway.

Marty, thanks so much for your suggestion to read that book on healing depression naturally. I am working through it, taking some of the vitamins and minerals, and sticking as close as I can to the moderate low glycemic diet. Does anyone happen to know any doctors in Calgary who would order that sort of blood work and hair analysis? I have been hypothyroid since the birth of my first son 14 years ago and been on Synthroid (T4). I may ask my doc for a trial of the Armour thyroid. Anyone know of any places that sell tryptophan over the counter, or is it still prescription only in all of N. America?
Cheers, AnneT

Hi AnneT,

Thyroid too? My holistic md friend says a hypo thyroid issue is one of toxicity. detoxifying the body is a big key step to getting that thyroid working again.

Also there are yoga exercises specifically for this problem as well. Let me know if you want some....

Tryptophan is legal once more OTC in America. Did you know the FDA banned it when there were 2 deaths. it was quickly linked to ONE MANUFACTURER in Japan but still kept off the shelves for years. (DO you think the FDA has the public or big Pharma in mind when making decisions?)

You can also take 5 htp which is serotonin precursor. Are you taking fish oil?

Blood work in Calgary? I am in Charlotte, NC... (balmy 68 today). can you use the labs listed in the book?) Google a search in your area too..

Also, here is a list of books all of us may like to read at some point.

Regards, Marty


alternativementalhealth.com has many, many references and the Abrahm Hoffer protocol. Abrahm Hoffer started the Orthomolecular Society for natural treatment of mental problems. He wrote many books and did a ton of research. Here are some other book titles that may be helpful:
Book Titles

The Myth of Mental Illness : Thomas S. Szasz, M.D.

The Manufacture of Madness : Thomas S. Szasz, M.D.

Toxic Psychiatry : Peter R. Breggin, M.D.

America Fooled : Dr Timothy Scott

Prozac Backlash : Joseh Glenmullen, M.D.

No More ADHD : Dr. Mary Ann Block

No More Ritalin : Dr. Mary Ann Block

The Mood Cure : Julia Ross, PhD, M.A.

Talking Back to Prozac : Peter Breggin, M.D.

Unholy Madness : Seth Farber

ADHD Fraud : Fred A. Baughman Jr., MD

Confessions of an RX Drug Pusher : Gwen Olsen

The Ritalin Fact Book : Peter R. Breggin, M.D.

Rethinking Psychiatric Drugs – A guide for Informed Consent : Grace E. Jackson, MD

The C.I.A. Doctors – Human Rights Violations by American Psychiatrists : Colin A. Ross, MD

Fight for Your Health : Byron J. Richards

Talking Back to Ritalin : Peter R. Breggin, M.D.

Healing Schizophrenia : Dr Abram Hoffer, MD, FRCP (C)

The Leipzig Connection : Paolo Lionni & Lance J. Klass

Psychiatry The Ultimate Betrayal : Bruce Wiseman

Dr. Braly’s Food Allergy and Nutrition – Revolution : James Braly, MD

The Anti-Depressant Fact Book : Peter R. Breggin, M.D.

Your Drug May Be Your Problem : Peter R. Breggin, M.D. and David Cohen, Ph.D

How You Can Fix the Schools and Homes That are Making Your Children Sick : Doris J. Rapp, M.D.

I am reading through all of our recent posts to catch up with everyone.

CCooney, yes, I am still trying to get off Effexor (6mg). I am not going to reduce anymore until January, what with travel, and I seem to get the Seasonal Affective issues. Tomorrow is finally the shortest daylight. It's been about -25-30 degress celcius for the last while, and my kids are home for school. My motivation and energy have plummetted, I'm not exercising much, injured my back. Blargh! Travelling next week.

Bodyworker1/Marty,
The book I found is 'Depression Free, Naturally' by Joan Larson. It may be the same, just the Canadian publication title. Maybe I will brave the cold and the sore hip today, and go in search of the aminos. I'm taking notes like mad on what might the most helpful regime of supplements. I really think avoiding white flour and sugar and alcohol will help me in the long run. It amazes me that stopping certain FOOD types can put me into a withdrawal/craving state. I've started to slowly decrease my caffeine intake, too. I think the L-glutamine does help, especially taking it without its capsule. Marty, sure, I'll try some yoga moves to boost my thyroid. I'll check out my books, but feel free to post some, too. Yes, I'm taking fish oils.

Marty (and everyone), there are some convenient supplements put out by Lorna Vanderhaege (sp?) that come remarkably close to the doses and compositions suggested by these Fibromyalgia Cure books, and Depression Cure books. They are expensive, but it make it so much easier (and maybe cheaper in the long run) than buying 30 different separate supps.

Kat1999, where did you get your tryptophan? Anyone know of a good, trustworthy online seller of tryptophan? It is still Rx here in Canada. (I'm just too lazy to go to my doc right now!)

Abbey, my understanding of Cymbalta is that it is longer acting than Effexor, and certainly can help with the 'discontinuation syndrome'.

Did I miss anyone?

AnneT

Ordering suplements: I havefound that the vitamin shoppe is a decent brand at good prices. Also there are on line retailers that will have all the Dr Larson recommends at decent prices.. Just have to shoppe around.

Yes Anne T its the same author (Joan Larson)

Regards

Hi everyone,
I haven't been on the site for a while but thought I would check in to see how everyone is going.

Anne, I am sorry to hear about you hurting your back. That is the worst because you can't do anything. Hope you are feeling better.

Abbie, how did you go with the immediate effects after dropping from 150mg to none? I tried that and had the worst withdrawal symptoms I had to go straight back on it.

Well I am now 16 weeks pregnant and still on 37.5mg. I really want to get off this drug but the morning sickness is just starting to go and now the migranes are setting in. And all I can take is paracetamol which does NOTHING!!!

I spoke to the doc about my fears that my baby will have to go through withdrawals if I take this up until the birth. She came up with a very valid point that if I was weaning myself off it now, the baby would be going through the same withdrawals while it is in the womb. She also mentioned that after the birth, hospitals will usually keep you in a little longer to keep an eye on the baby to make sure everything is ok. This made me feel a bit better as I was feeling extremely guilty that I can't get myself off this.

I've also been having major mood swings. Friday night I spent the night crying hysterically for pretty much no reason and yesterday I was on top of the world. I guess I will put it down to hormones.

Kelly,
I know I'm not really supposed to give advice as a family physician here...I am really here as a patient...but please please look into switching to Prozac! It is longer acting, so will help you get off the Effexor with minimal withdrawals. It is the most studied, and therefore the most recommended antidepressant for pregnancies. It has a very low risk of putting your baby through withdrawal after birth. Pregnancy and post-partum are high-risk times for depression, and studies show it is much better for baby (and mom!!!) in the long run to have a healthy, medicated mother, rather than an unmedicated by depressed/anxiety disordered mother. Prozac, so far, is the drug of choice. If you can access any articles or books by Dr. Shaila Misri, she is one the experts in peri-natal psychiatry here in Canada.

Okay, doctor rant over. Back to being a patient!

With my severe withdrawal symptoms, I was desperate. I was still really nervous to add on another medication, but I was amazed that just the half-dose daily of Prozac has eliminated my debilitating vertigo episodes while I have weaned the Effexor from 37.5 down to 6.

I am glad to hear from you again. Wishing you all the best,
AnneT

Fortunately I was linked to this sight last week from a witer on topix. Now I have nearly completed reading all the posts on this subject.I've focused on Mikemo's spike drop theory after it was suggested on topix forum which is what I found after 4 horrible days cold turkey. My doc said I was only on 75 mg and could stop when I wanted. So after about 13 years I was conviced it was causing me more problems than good. On the 4th day I barely could stand and called the doc who thought I had flu symptoms, which I knew was withdrawal. He called in scrip for 37.5 which I took for 5 days. Mikemo's idea was confusing at first but my husband split the pills and I am now on 3rd day of 25mg. Symptoms seem worse today. I know I can stay at this dosage for a while. Mikemo, if you are still there, please help.In the posts I found a couple different drop down dosages. Originally I put some of the posts together for this schedule after 5 days of 25mg to: 5,0,15,15,15,15,15. 25,10,7.5,7.5,0,5,5,2.5,2.5 and 0. Your later writings shows after 25mg, do: 20,20,20,20,15,15,15,15,5,10,10,10,10,2.5,5,2.5,2.5,0. For me, which may be better? Thank you so much for response. Marri

Hey Marri,
Welcome to Effexor withdrawal. Sorry to hear there is another one of 'us'. Mikemo's method of capsule-splitting is wonderful. If you can also tolerate the spike-dropping, that's great and seems like it might speed up the discontinuation.

I would just suggest you listen to your body to see what is the right speed, the right time etc for your dosage dropping. I found I couldn't tolerate the spike drops. I have found it much easier on me to go to a twice a day dosing (I am now on 3 mg AM & PM), and reduce in small amounts about every 2 weeks. Even with that, I get the withdrawals, usually day 2 and around day 7 after a drop.

Do what you can to support your body and mind in other ways, too - exercise, yoga, prayer/meditation, funny movies, healthy food and supplements, fish oils - whatever works for you.

Keep checking in a let us know how you are doing!
AnneT

Thank you Anne T. I did drop today to 10, with next 4 days on 20. I dont know about this. My head is constantly ringing. I am trying to get as much advice as I can from re reading this sight and the topix sight. I just finished walking and will look for a yoga class come new year. I am just retired and this was my goal-to get off this drug. I intend on seeking natural/homeopathic solutions in the future. This includes the HRT, that I have been slowly reducing. I stayed on E while going thru a rough last few years of working in criminal justice. I have dedicated this winter to getting free of E and loose the 36+ lbs that I gained since begining E. My greatest enjoyment of reading is probably the hardest because of the quiet on the outside makes the noise in my brain so much louder. happy new year and thanks again for your response, Marri

Hi Marri,
Some have found quick relief of the withdrawal symptoms with Benadryl and fish oils. I think these help me a bit, but I really had to reduce gradually. So, maybe you need to add a few milligrams.

It seems that most of us have the roughest time reducing below 37.5, so be patient with yourself! The brain heals, but veeeerrrrryyyy slowly. After brain injuries, improvements keep happening for up to, and sometimes over, 2 years.

I would suggest that, if you went 25, 10, 20, 20, 20, 20 and are still feeling lousy, either go back to the 25 or see if you can create 22.5. Either way, stay at the 'I feel well' dose for 1-2 weeks. Keep boosting your system with all that good exercise. You might like to read bodyworker1's posts about amino acids.

Then, either reduce your dose by about 10% per 1-2 weeks, or try the drop dosing, but in smaller increments. (25, 18, 22.5, 20 x 2 weeks etc).

No sense making yourself suffer. This is not about will-power, but brain chemistry. It will take awhile.

I found that, even going so gradually, I had horrible vertigo/loss of coordination attacks, so am on a small dose of Prozac. This is allowing me to reduce the Effexor (still ever so slowly!!) I have been on 3 mg twice daily for 3-4 weeks, and I plan to drop to 2.5 mg twice a day.

Do you drink alcohol? Have you tried going of wheat, dairy, and/or corn?
AnneT

thank you everyone and happy new year. AnneT, thank you so much for your advice and will pay close attention to how I feel on 20. today was my first 20 day and I stayed busy. The buzzing is in the head but without any idle time today, I could manage. I will read those posts, I do take the Benadryl sometimes-Fish oil and multiple for seniors too. I dont drink much and have not been able to since being on E and in 'menapause' and drink yogurt and lactaid free milk. Wheat, well that is an issue specially when carbo craving on E. Not so much. Peace, Marri

Anne T,

Happy New Year to all. I was away for the holidays, and am still struggling with my back issues.

Regarding the Tryptophan, I picked it up at a local GNC. But, I found out they will not be carrying it no more.

I am wondering about Prozac. One of the biggest problems I had with Effexor, was it elevating my Cholesteral and my Gloucose.

I have been looking at it and lots of other meds, and most seem to have that affect. Do you know if what are the chances with it(prozac) having those effects?

And, what would be lowest effective dose?

My psychologist seems to think that I may not need it. But, I have had a few teary days. I am hoping that it is my Thyroid (autoimmune) being out of wack again. It being out of balance usually puts me in depression, even when I was on the E.
Thank you,
Kathy

Hi everyone,
buffey here, its been a while but i just wanted to reasure you all that mikemo spitting works and there is light at the end of the tunnel. I thought i would let you guys know how i'm feeling and that is fantastic, great and love life. stick with the spitting process and get off this medication when you are feeling strong because the withdrawal symptons are worse than the medication it self. the medication itself helped at a time when i was at my lowest but soon as i became strong i got off it.
i actually went to the chemist, who gave me advise on coming off this medication. My doctor was advising me to stay on it for 6 months. the chemist gave me a faster spitting process than mikemo suggestion. working with the advise from the chemist and mikemo i worked out my own spitting program. It very much depends on you as a individual, but i do compliment mikemo spiltting program. Without it, i would of suffered greatly and would of been been on this medication for a while. good luck to you all as i'm signing off from this blog. i'll touch base every now and then. all the best Buffey

sorry buffey again, i just read a few more of the writting.
stick with it, the feelings of fuzziness, ringings so on are all part of it. but stick with it, it want stay for long.
focus on positives things like going for walks, yoga and watching movies, araccept all invitations and go out more. i know it sounds like a 'pie in the sky' outlook when your low and all there is, is ringing and fuzziness going on in your head. the symptons do pass. stay with it. buffey

Hi All,
Buffey, were your 'ringings' in one or both ears?

I am down to 3.75 mg (yes, 1/10th of a capsule) a day, and doing alright except for exhausting, vivid dreams.

I go for my MRI tomorrow, to see if my one-sided hearing loss and ringing ear is due to something nasty on my auditory nerve.
AnneT

I been keeping up with the posts and still dropping dosage. Now at 10mg for next 2 days then dropping to 5 and 2.5. I noticed AnneT mentioned ringing in her ear. I too have 'ringing' or a constant buzzing.I assumed it is the withdrawing from effexor. It is driving me crazy. The other symtoms still exist. AnneT is your ringing not associated with the E? Will this go away?

yes the ringing came in one or both ears, its all part of the withdrawal. keep with it. I also use to get a popping sound. its hard to explain. I went for a quicker option with the splitting process to get off this medication quickly. Yes i toughed it out. it is very much what you can deal with.
All i can say is that i reasure you all that i don't have any sypmtoms at all and its been a while. all the fuzziness, ringing and popping all passes. Like i said stay with it. Don't get caught up in the with drawal symptoms, my advise is to be self reliant and stay focus instead of focusing on the withdrawal aspects. Yes they are going to happen and each person is different, but stay with it. it may take a few months, then there will be a time you don't even notice it's not happening anymore. the reason i say this is because i know this is hard but move your thoughts away from the symptoms of withdrawal because it makes it worse. move your thoughts away from this and eventually you want even notice it's gone and not happening anymore. best off luck. i hope you can get through this because its doesn't have to be this hard and stay with you. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Buffey (quick entry again, excuse typos)

thank you so much Buffey. I decided on the dropping dos as I stopped 4 days cold turkey not knowing I couldn't. After thinking I was terribly 'sick' I finally did all the reading and went back on 37.5 to level and then down. Today will be first of 5mg. Just knowing will will be better is all I needed as today my head is 'singing.' Walking, being busy, even life's craziness,cause me not to focus on the symtoms.
cheers for a great day!

Marri,
I don't know for sure whether the ringing in my ear is related to the Effexor. It has been in the right ear consistently since last March. There is also a sense of fullness, and actual low-frequency hearing loss. I had my MRI yesterday and am nervously awaiting the results. I suspect it is not related to the Effexor, since it is only one side, and has not improved (or worsened) as I have lowered the dose.

But I would definitely look into it if others have had actual hearing loss from Effexor...another one for the lawyers, I'm sure!
AnneT