Effexor withdrawl and symptoms, please help _{Page 39 of 140}

http://www.tlctx.com/ar_pages/paw_part1.htm

cond/general/paws.pdf" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/pdfs/PatientEd/Materials/PDFDoc...

http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2000/mar00.htm#effexo

Just some other sites that kind of correlate this. In other words, I believe we have to take good care of ourselves for the long-haul post-Effexor so not to be caught up short if/when the withdrawal lingers.

L.

Thanks, Laurel. There is another site- Family Intervention of virginia-http://www.interventionctr.com/paws.htm.
Elena, I hope you will go to these site; I know I feel better reading them.
Now at least I know why I feel nauseous and panicky so frequently.
All the best,
Coleen

Well I got a phone call from my mother who just got back from her Psychatrist and she told me I was right about how hard it is to come off Effexor (like I was wrong about it). He told her that it takes a min. of 3 to 4 weeks after you have taken your last pill. He told her the biggest complaint he has heard is that they are feeling crazy (yeah). This brings me back to the same thing I said before. I don't think Dr.'s are really as educated on this as say a psychiatrist. My doctor is the exeption like I posted earlier he does not precribe it anymore.

Today I attended my brother's Drug Court Graduation. After a year and a half he finnaly graduated. He was addicted to Crack Cocaine. When he went to detox for the first time, they put him on Effexor. He then messed up and landed himself in jail. He was not given Effexor and had to stop cold turkey. He said that the physical withdrawl was worse then that of Crack Cocaine. Now to me that is scary!

I can not remember who posted about work and kids. When you finnaly get down to the week you are going completley off, I suggest you take sick leave. Also find someone to help you with your kids. Get a precription for valum (do not over take just one a day). I personally could not function for one solid week when I had nothing in my system, and I went from pouring out of the 37.5 in half. There is no way to work and raise kids going through that kind of withdrawl (My kids are 12,7 &2).

There is light at the end of the tunnel, I feel it. I too am going to try Wellbutrin starting tommorow.

I aploud everyone for trying.
Love,
Sadie

Well, it is 1:45 pm and I can't get to sleep. This is terrible and the more I lay there and try to sleep the harder it gets. So I decided to get up and get on the computer. Does anyone else have a problem with sleep.
My physical problems with withdraw are bad right now. I ache and feel bloated. Right now I am miserable.I really hope this will let up soon. I remember someone else talking about feeling bloated. How long does this last?
You know, you really do feel like you are going crazy sometimes.
Well, I just wanted to vent.

Goodnight:)
Bonnie

Goodmorning all - Just checking in to see all everyone is doing today. I didnt get much sleep last night and was up early this morning.
Elena I am wondering how you are today! Hope to hear from you and that you are feeling better.

Hugs,
Bonnie

Hey Bonnie. I can't sleep either. I toss and turn, and my stomach is in knots. I start to think and get negative, which I have to fight myself not to do. So there I am ,waged in a battle when all I want to do is bloody sleep.I just feel like screaming. I think tonight is the night I start St John's Wort. I have to sleep sometime.
Coleen

Elena, How did your weekend go? I know you were anxious about it. Are you feeling any better?
Thinking of you
Coleen

I am so glad I found this site today. I have been taking Effexor XR for 3 weeks now. The first week, I was taking 37 mg and weeks 2 and 3 I have been taking 75 mg. From what I have been reading, I am planning to stop taking this today before I get hooked. Do you think it will be o.k. to quit cold turkey after only 3 weeks on the medication?

I have been taking Effexor XR for the past 3 weeks. The first week, I was taking 37 mg. For the last 2 weeks, I have been taking 75 mg. After reading all your posts, I am afraid to continue taking it. Do you think I can quit cold turkey after only 3 weeks on the medication?

Annabelle, are you quitting because of what you have read on here? Why did you start taking this drug? You really need to talk with your doctor about it, because if you have a problem with depression, you made need something. Effexor helped me in the beginning, because I was depressed.
This is just my opinion.
Take care and welcome
Bonnie

My goodness, I go away for a week and 3 new pages are added! Coco, I totally agree with the issue on the Atkins diet, I am glad to know that there is a scientific reason that I felt uncomfortable with my husband going on it last year. I did it in my 30’s, lost lots of weight but ended up with other problems. Now I know why. And I hate to say it, but the aspartame crosses that blood brain barrier too in one form or another, I cannot remember which. Did you know that the dot that Indian women (from Asian India), called the Third Eye, is sort of a portal to the blood brain barrier—the ancients knew more than we do).

Some of you guys feel really tired? We just got back from Denver today and I think that all that I did there was sleep. The altitude issue as well as the E. The zapping was bad but the first part of the week I could rest and do nothing, which I did. Wednesday our daughter showed up and I had to function. But the best part of her visit was during dinner one night she said to me, “Mom, you really look good, what have you been doing to yourself?” At last, I must look good again.

We did the road trip around the Rocky Mountain National Park from Estes Park to Grand Lake and return the same way. (The first time we did not see any wildlife, but the return trip we saw lots. However, we went up to 12,000+ ft altitude and I am still recovering).

Sadie, I think your mother in law is okay on the E. First of all, does she have a sex life at her age (I hope to if my hubby is still alive), that was what I missed most on it. At that age people have sleeping problems, the E takes care of that. The E works and satisfies some people, just not the ones who realize that they have plateaued out. At her age she may not need the emotions and feelings that we who are younger need. Remember, it is the withdrawal that is the pits.

Elena, I am so sorry to hear about your pain. And bad things do make you stronger if you can take control of them, that is the key. Is there something old that the doc can give you. You know, an old, tried and true, antidepressant. I am so hoping that when I am off I don’t have a lot of setbacks which is what is appears to me you are having. I am on 4 mg of E and am weepy and cranky, but since I am such a controlled person, I am holding it in and that is not good either.

Rudy, we have all posted the same post multiple times, it just depends on how stressed we are and anxious to see that it goes through. I have lost posts too, so whatever. By the way, welcome to our group, aren’t we great? And you know what, I know so many people my age who are on some sort of antidepressant (I’m 60) and most of them feel great and don’t want to leave. But the ones on E have or will leave it though.

Coco, I just read about your adolescence and how you were considered high sensitive. My goodness, that rings a bell, I was always considered “high strung”, is that the same thing? I always envisioned myself as a thoroughbred race horse (although I sure don’t look like one, but with the same temperament). Interesting.

Bonnie, I am tired all the time and I am still not off the E. Two more weeks. I am having a really hard time exercising which I know is so important, but the desire to do it is not there, I am forcing myself. Just take one step at a time. Like me, you don’t have children at home who muddy the recovery. I really feel bad for all of you who have children, and God forbid, teenagers, how can you cope with them, feeling like you do.

Anyway, I am back from my trip, have tried to read all of the posts and respond and tell you how I am doing. Welcome, to any of our new people who I missed, but I will get to you. In two weeks, I go from 4 mg to cold turkey and I can’t wait to finally get this over with.

Love, Sheila

Hi everyone.
Thank you so much for your well wishes. The weekend went well. I was a little tired but it was great to get out of the city and into the woods. The air was beautifully fresh and clean and the weather was perfect. I did have a couple of moments when I felt bad, but I just tried to ignore it and stay positive. I have thought of going on an anti depressant, but to be honest, I just really don't want to. Maybe that means I am doing things the hard way, but I just don't wanna have to rely on that. We'll see. If it gets really bad then I may have to. Bonnie I have been so exhausted it just isn't even funny. And yes, feeling crazy has deffinatly been a part of my recovery.No fun at all. I have had trouble getting a peaceful sleep and I haven't gotten the chance to make it up yet!
I will write more in a bit, I have to get some work done.
I also have a lot of reading to do on this forum!!

Take care all
xoElena

Hello everyone, it is good to have you back with us, Sheila, I miss your words of wisdom.
Elena, glad to hear that you had a good weekend. I thought about you and how you were feeling.
It has been crazy for me, like I said. Elena, didnt you say you had that bloated feeling? Do you still have it?
I have that and just feel achey. I have had a stiff neck for at least 4 days. It is getting better, but I have no idea what caused it. Not getting the proper amount of sleep makes everything worse. I still dont sleep very well. I really dont want to take anything for it and then become dependent on that too. I do have some ambien and take it once in a while, especially if I am going to do something the next day and need better sleep the night before. I can't imagine what you and others are feeling, because I am on zolfot too.
I feel like everything I am experiencing is from effexor.

Have a great day everyone,
Bonnie

Hi Bonnie.
I am still feeling a bit bloated. But not as badly as before. I have been so tired, and anxious. But I am begining to realize that I was numbed to all of my emotions while on Effexor, and now that I am off, I am twice as bad. My emotions are even more sensitive, I am even more anxious and my thoughts tree branch from one to the next, making me more scared and or paranoid. It's awful. So I believe that in order for me to start feeling good again I need to read more on how to control my anxiety and understand my thought process. I remember Laurel was going through a really rough time after she had gotten off of the Effexor. How long were you off Effexor before having a really low point Laurel?
Because maybe that is the point I am at.
I think I was always like this, but I forgot about it because of the Effexor. I don't know if that is a good or bad thing.How long are you off Effexor now Bonnie? I think I am at something like 31 days free. Too bad that I don't feel 100% yet.

Anyways, I hope you all are doing well. You're all in my thoughts and prayers.
Hugs
xo Elena

Elena I think I am at about 23 days effexor free. YOu know my husband was telling me that he is HR manager for his company and they do drug testing by using hair. I forget the number of days he said, but it takes about 6 months to get some drugs out of our systems, by testing the hair. So, I would imagine that effexor would stay in our bodies for a long time.
It would be interesting to know just how long it does take to completely leave the body.
My thoughts are like yours. I go from one things to another, in my mind saying well what if this happens and then this happens. I am always racing. I really dont think zoloft is doing me any good for that. I would like to get off of it also, but my doctor says one drug at a time. So I will wait.

You all are also in my thoughts and prayers.
Take care,
Bonnie

I have to work all week but this morning I dropped down again to 2mg. And on Saturday, that's it.

My hairdresser is finding someone for me who does the chemical hair analysis. I am going to get one as soon as my hair grows out all the way on the E, see what is still there and what I need for supplements. The drugs are laid down in your hair before it shows up on your head. What is on your head is old, like fingernails, that is why an analysis can tell if you have taken illicit drugs. Until your hair grows out, it is a map to your intake over the period it was growing out. Does that make sense? Sometimes I can't get my thoughts out right.

Anyway, I expect by Thursday I will be real ditzy again. And tired. But this too shall pass - someone famous said that, don't ask me who.

Bonnie and Elena, hang in there and try to get some sleep, do some meditation and yoga before bed. I've been doing the corpse pose when I can't get to sleep and it works like a charm.

Love, Sheila

Sheila, can you explain the corpse pose to me please. If it works, I will try it.
Thanks,
Bonnie

Bonnie, the corpse pose is very simple. Lie flat on your back in bed. Put your heels together and let your feet fall open so that your knees and toes are pointing outward. Don’t force your knees, just let them hang there. Extend your arms by your side with the palms up. The secret is in the breathing. Do you know how to do the yoga deep breathing? Just fill your lungs all the way down (your abdomen should bulge a bit) and then exhale all the way out, tucking in your abdomen getting as much air out as you can. Concentrate on the breathing. Do it slowly. Each breath in and each breath out should take at least 3 seconds each. Try to clear your head of any thoughts other than your breathing. (This pose is close to the end of my yoga tape, just before meditation, and I fall into a light sleep in the middle of it all the time, I have to wake up to meditate).

I hope this works for you. Now, I have no trouble getting to sleep this way, but I am still waking during the night a lot, (usually to go to the bathroom), but 50% of the time I cannot get back to sleep, but then again I haven’t done the corpse pose in the middle of the night. Must try it. I usually get about 5-6 hours in before waking, but I need the 8-9 to feel my best. Middle of the night is when I do my ironing.

Good luck, Sheila

I'm deffinatly going to try that Sheila. It sounds wonderful, and simple enough to do.
Just got over an anxious morning. Thank goodness this day is almost done. I find the morning is really bad for me. I wake up with an anxious feeling in my chest. Not a good way to wake up.
Oh and I will be gone for this week, so I won't be around to check my mail. I just wanted to let you guys know, incase you were wondering where my rambling posts were!
I would also like to let you all know how much it has ment to me to be able to express myself, and to receive such amazing support from all of you. Thank you for helping me, and my sanity.
And I must admit, keeping faith does help immensely. I do believe in the power of prayer.

Hugs and Prayers
xo Elena

Hi to all, I think I am ready for another decrease in medication, probably next week. As I have mentioned before, I am currently on 37.5 mg in the am and 37.5 mg in the pm. I am looking for your opinion on whether I am better skipping out a dose all together so that I am on just the one capsule a day and if so, which one, I usually start feeling withdrawal within 16 hours of a missed dose, or if I should start splitting a capsule.

Does anyone know how many beads in a capsule = 1mg?

It has been a little over a month since my last reduction so I think it is time. Any opinions are really appreciated :o)

Kerry

Mum22, I am taking what I think is 2 mg right now which is about 5 of those tiny beads. Your first drop from 37.5 is going to be tough. I would just take half the capsule in the am and half in the pm like you are doing. Just open the capsule and dump half into yogurt or applesauce. You should be able to just juggle back and forth to even the dose out.- You might try that. Best of luck to you and our prayers will be with you. Keep us posted.

Love, Sheila

Hello everyone. I just found this formum after doing some research. I am at the end of a very quick tapering off of the effexor due to some funky liver function tests, which the dr's think may be due to the medication. Of course, this is not listed as a side effect, but whatever. What are these brain zaps everyone talks about ? I have to say I loved being on it ever since I was diagnosed with ppd in January and am really upset about going off. I have been at 150 for about 6 mos and then I cut to 75 for 5 days and now I have one day left of 37.5 That sounds quicker than most of you hav done but if it's damaging my liver we need to know that, or if it's something else. Anyway, that's my story. Any tips for surviving this ?

Hello everyone. I just found this formum after doing some research. I am at the end of a very quick tapering off of the effexor due to some funky liver function tests, which the dr's think may be due to the medication. Of course, this is not listed as a side effect, but whatever. What are these brain zaps everyone talks about ? I have to say I loved being on it ever since I was diagnosed with ppd in January and am really upset about going off. I have been at 150 for about 6 mos and then I cut to 75 for 5 days and now I have one day left of 37.5 That sounds quicker than most of you hav done but if it's damaging my liver we need to know that, or if it's something else. Anyway, that's my story. Any tips for surviving this ?

smlmom, are you having any feelings in your head like whooshing? It is sort of like the noise in your head that you might have if you are dehydrated. If you were put on the E for ppd, that means you are young. You are so fortunate to get off it so quickly. It really screws up your libido. I don't know much about what it may or may not do to liver function, but why chance it if your problems occurred after you started taking it.

There are other things you can take if you are still depressed after childbirth, just don't continue on the E. Keep us posted on what is happening with you. - Sheila

Hi
I have been E free for 20 days now. I tapered down to about 1mg or about 6 beads, when I stopped. I have been taking ginger tablets for the nausea, otherwise things have gone quite well. I have some minor brain zaps mostly as I am falling asleep. I felt pretty awful at first but have gotten gradually better and better.

ohhhh my goodness. I have been on Effexor for a year. I suffer from severe depression and am a recovering addict. I have been taking 150 mg. My family is just happy that I am sober and refused to listen to my complaints about the Effexor. I have since tried to quit taking it a few times and about 2-3 days in I get sooooo sick. I actually have to just lay in bed unless I take the medicine. I have been on antidepressants for years and this is the worst.!!!! So I started halfing my pills about a week ago. I feel nautious a lot and I feel like I am going crazy off and on. Plus the buzzzzz thing in my head is horrible. Its almost like I 'woosh' in and out - I hate it. This really is worse then coming off of drugs. how long do I wait until I can reduce the dose again? anyone?