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Effexor withdrawl and symptoms, please help Page 47 of 140
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This is just a forum. Assume posts are not from medical professionals.
Sadie I have in th epast felt these periods of agitation with racing thoughts.At first it was with my cycle. Usually every monthe on the day before it started. Some foods make my mind and body feel racey. I have chemical and food sensitivities.
When I went on the Effexor I was getting a few more spells than the normal monthly one.
This Pdoc has seemed eager to diagnose me as Bi-polar since I started seeing her. Its always"Do you fell elaed? do you go buy things ? do you have trouble focusing?etc."
Well This time I answered yes to the focusing one and she seemed to think I would be headed for a full blown episode.
Today I took >5 mg of Ativan in the morning and my Elavil at lunch and now. I had a really good day.
I would much rather take Ativan as I hae over the years than an anti psychotic!!!!
I know it is nor=t for me.
I also think at 46 there are some peri-menopause factors to consider here.
Just want to feel better. Thanks all for input.Any more encouragement is welcome.
Also I do think I need to get past the Effexor(which she says woiuldnt cause any of the racing etc}and onto the Elavil to see how I feel then.
When I went on the Effexor I was getting a few more spells than the normal monthly one.
This Pdoc has seemed eager to diagnose me as Bi-polar since I started seeing her. Its always"Do you fell elaed? do you go buy things ? do you have trouble focusing?etc."
Well This time I answered yes to the focusing one and she seemed to think I would be headed for a full blown episode.
Today I took >5 mg of Ativan in the morning and my Elavil at lunch and now. I had a really good day.
I would much rather take Ativan as I hae over the years than an anti psychotic!!!!
I know it is nor=t for me.
I also think at 46 there are some peri-menopause factors to consider here.
Just want to feel better. Thanks all for input.Any more encouragement is welcome.
Also I do think I need to get past the Effexor(which she says woiuldnt cause any of the racing etc}and onto the Elavil to see how I feel then.
ellie-mae last decade
Ah, Seroquel. Yes, it's a major tranquilizer used to treat psychosis and also as a mood stabilizer for people with depression/anxiety disorders. The advantage of Seroquel over Ativan -- a minor tranquilizer in the benzodiazapine family -- is that the major tranks are NOT addictive. The benzos do cause addiction and can be very unpleasant to withdraw from, similarly to E withdrawal.
Personally, I do not take Seroquel and do take a small dose of Klonopin -- another benzo -- that I am hoping to titrate off of someday soon. I know that I will have to take a long titration, given my extreme sensitivity to all these psychotropic meds. However, I know a slew of people on Seroquel. Some say they don't have a clue if it's helping; others are fine on it; and one person I know knew it was causing her distress and convinced her doc to take her off of it. She improved. Big time. She also is bi-polar and doing splendidly right now.
Isn't life fun as a lab rat? :-0
Laurel
Personally, I do not take Seroquel and do take a small dose of Klonopin -- another benzo -- that I am hoping to titrate off of someday soon. I know that I will have to take a long titration, given my extreme sensitivity to all these psychotropic meds. However, I know a slew of people on Seroquel. Some say they don't have a clue if it's helping; others are fine on it; and one person I know knew it was causing her distress and convinced her doc to take her off of it. She improved. Big time. She also is bi-polar and doing splendidly right now.
Isn't life fun as a lab rat? :-0
Laurel
Naria last decade
Naria and Ellie Mae-
My mom is also is on Klonopin she takes 4 a day and now is down to 800 mg of Seroquel, but my mom does have psychotic episodes. She is sometimes uncontroulable and has temper tatrums like a 4 year old.
Did you know that Klonopin and Seroquel are one of the top saught after drugs on the street. Drug addicts would pay big bucks for that stuff.
My mom was taken off of klonopin once and had a terrible withdrawl, she was seizuring and halusinating. By the way everyone I can not spell so bare with me.
If you need it take it, but just be carefull I have seen what these powerfull drugs do to my mom. She is 61 years old and she is like an 80 year old women she takes Seroquel at night to sleep and calm down and wakes up and takes klonopin(makes no sence because that is a downer and was on providgal (upper) take a pill for this and that and soon your body doesn't know how to function without it. She now has a new Psychiatrist who is trying to gradually take her off stuff and for the bi-polar is treating her with depakote a much inavaisive drug. Please do not think I am condeming anyone on these drugs just make sure it is the right dose for the right illness. I have seen my mothers life taken away and I know it is because all of the drugs. Dr. Phill said yesterday that before anyone should be treated with meds that they should have a brain scan to confirm that they have a psychological disease or imbalance.
Good Luck to all,
Sadie
My mom is also is on Klonopin she takes 4 a day and now is down to 800 mg of Seroquel, but my mom does have psychotic episodes. She is sometimes uncontroulable and has temper tatrums like a 4 year old.
Did you know that Klonopin and Seroquel are one of the top saught after drugs on the street. Drug addicts would pay big bucks for that stuff.
My mom was taken off of klonopin once and had a terrible withdrawl, she was seizuring and halusinating. By the way everyone I can not spell so bare with me.
If you need it take it, but just be carefull I have seen what these powerfull drugs do to my mom. She is 61 years old and she is like an 80 year old women she takes Seroquel at night to sleep and calm down and wakes up and takes klonopin(makes no sence because that is a downer and was on providgal (upper) take a pill for this and that and soon your body doesn't know how to function without it. She now has a new Psychiatrist who is trying to gradually take her off stuff and for the bi-polar is treating her with depakote a much inavaisive drug. Please do not think I am condeming anyone on these drugs just make sure it is the right dose for the right illness. I have seen my mothers life taken away and I know it is because all of the drugs. Dr. Phill said yesterday that before anyone should be treated with meds that they should have a brain scan to confirm that they have a psychological disease or imbalance.
Good Luck to all,
Sadie
sadie last decade
Sadie, let me start by saying that my physicist/engineer boyfriend always says that people who only know one way to spell a word aren't very creative. :-)
Your mother did indeed have the nightmare of Klonopin withdrawals. That's why s-l-o-w is very important when going off. I already told my doctor that I want to titrate very conservatively. She concurred.
I'm not bi-polar -- just garden variey anxious with some depression thrown in -- and I know from reading and from interacting with bi-polar friends in clinical/therapeutic settings what a difficult disease it is to manage. I have another friend on Seroquel and Klonopin, and that makes no sense to me either. He's going to ask his doctor to take him off the Seroquel. I know many clinicians use it for sleep with their patients. When I hear about people tell me the huge menu of pills they're on, I feel very sad.
Your mom is on 4 mg of Klonopin a day or 4 doses of Klonopin a day (at some specified level)? 4 mg. is a lot in my mind. But, I'm not a doctor, don't play one on TV, but was married to a psychiatrist in a former life (not a past life. :-) )
A good friend recently went through neurological testing, which included an EEG and brain MRI and learned that it wasn't her depression/anxiety that were making her "dumb" but that she had ADHD-related coping mechanisms going on that caused her to make wrong judgments about things. She is now getting bio-feedback retraining for her brain. It sounds very exciting and positive in its expected outcome.
Personally, I don't like taking medication, but I've made some compromises along the way. My allergist and I wrangled for years over asthma meds, and then one day I just let go to taking what I needed. Of course, treatment of asthma seems more dependable than the crap shoot of psychiatry. I know I'm sounding very jaded about drugs, but my experience with E was something I'd never wish on another human being (well, maybe on a fat cat a Wyeth).
I can't imagine why anyone would want to take Klonopin "for fun." I do understand why someone addicted to it might be trying to get it on the street after getting cut off by their doc. I'm a Stevie Nicks fan and I remember that to get off cocaine she was put on Klonopin, to which she became addicted and took in large doses. Of course, the good news is she finally became addiction free.
Wow, I'm really rambling today. At 22 weeks off Effexor I still desire the support of this forum and the opportunity to share my 2 cents.
Love and blessings,
Laurel
Your mother did indeed have the nightmare of Klonopin withdrawals. That's why s-l-o-w is very important when going off. I already told my doctor that I want to titrate very conservatively. She concurred.
I'm not bi-polar -- just garden variey anxious with some depression thrown in -- and I know from reading and from interacting with bi-polar friends in clinical/therapeutic settings what a difficult disease it is to manage. I have another friend on Seroquel and Klonopin, and that makes no sense to me either. He's going to ask his doctor to take him off the Seroquel. I know many clinicians use it for sleep with their patients. When I hear about people tell me the huge menu of pills they're on, I feel very sad.
Your mom is on 4 mg of Klonopin a day or 4 doses of Klonopin a day (at some specified level)? 4 mg. is a lot in my mind. But, I'm not a doctor, don't play one on TV, but was married to a psychiatrist in a former life (not a past life. :-) )
A good friend recently went through neurological testing, which included an EEG and brain MRI and learned that it wasn't her depression/anxiety that were making her "dumb" but that she had ADHD-related coping mechanisms going on that caused her to make wrong judgments about things. She is now getting bio-feedback retraining for her brain. It sounds very exciting and positive in its expected outcome.
Personally, I don't like taking medication, but I've made some compromises along the way. My allergist and I wrangled for years over asthma meds, and then one day I just let go to taking what I needed. Of course, treatment of asthma seems more dependable than the crap shoot of psychiatry. I know I'm sounding very jaded about drugs, but my experience with E was something I'd never wish on another human being (well, maybe on a fat cat a Wyeth).
I can't imagine why anyone would want to take Klonopin "for fun." I do understand why someone addicted to it might be trying to get it on the street after getting cut off by their doc. I'm a Stevie Nicks fan and I remember that to get off cocaine she was put on Klonopin, to which she became addicted and took in large doses. Of course, the good news is she finally became addiction free.
Wow, I'm really rambling today. At 22 weeks off Effexor I still desire the support of this forum and the opportunity to share my 2 cents.
Love and blessings,
Laurel
Naria last decade
So I think I am anxious with depression.What would classify me as Bi-polar.
Does overthinking, panicking considering I have been through 5 years of traumatic events I thing all I am looking for is something to ease my anxiety and depression....Is thqat mnaic of me? Who takes Seroquel????
And would a high risk diabetes individual take a drug that increases the risk???..hmmmmmmmmm
Does overthinking, panicking considering I have been through 5 years of traumatic events I thing all I am looking for is something to ease my anxiety and depression....Is thqat mnaic of me? Who takes Seroquel????
And would a high risk diabetes individual take a drug that increases the risk???..hmmmmmmmmm
ellie-mae last decade
A lot of people with bi-polar take Seroquel. But I'm not sure you're describing bi-polar for yourself. Bi-polar is a mood disorder wherein a person moves from depressive episodes to mania, the mania often being a time of wild and irresponsible behavior and also a lot of creativity. Do you have episodes of not sleeping for days at a time and doing lots of work or going out partying every night or spending outlandishly? That's more a mania description, as I understand mania.
Or are you "haunted" by memories of things from the past, feeling as though you're reliving them? That would be one way of looking at PTSD. Go to the library and get Edward Hallowell's (or Hollowell)book _Worry_. It does a great job of describing the anxiety disorders and their treatments.
L.
If you're suffering effects from things in the past, and especially as you mention anxiety, I'd ask your doctor about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which IS an anxiety disorder.
I would not personally take a drug with potential harmful side effects if I knew I was at high risk.
Seroquel is used to treat schizophrenia, bi-polar, and for mood stabilization for depression/anxiety sufferers.
Or are you "haunted" by memories of things from the past, feeling as though you're reliving them? That would be one way of looking at PTSD. Go to the library and get Edward Hallowell's (or Hollowell)book _Worry_. It does a great job of describing the anxiety disorders and their treatments.
L.
If you're suffering effects from things in the past, and especially as you mention anxiety, I'd ask your doctor about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which IS an anxiety disorder.
I would not personally take a drug with potential harmful side effects if I knew I was at high risk.
Seroquel is used to treat schizophrenia, bi-polar, and for mood stabilization for depression/anxiety sufferers.
Naria last decade
Naria, you are so knowledgeable about all the psych drugs. God bless you, you can one-on-one help a lot of our new friends on this site.
It depresses me so to see that each week we continue to get new people who are trying to get off the E, when will they take this drug off the market (don't they dare touch my Celebrex). I started on May 16 on page 9, a month into my weaning! Look how long this forum is now.
I am now at 6 weeks E free and am still having zaps, sleep problems, intestinal tract problems, and worst of all, the short-term memory loss problem. I'm fine a couple of hours later when I start to remember things. My husband has started making lists for me, but what can you do when you put the teakettle on to boil and forget about it - one destroyed teakettle.
I am so lucky that my (I think) only emotional problems are anxiety related. I can handle that.
Welcome to all our new people. This is a wonderful forum, and somewhere on it there is something for everyone. We all started taking the E for different reasons, but the withdrawal is similar for us all, in different ways, different things work for some. I weaned extremely slowly. It took me 5 months from 75 mg. I was able to function and didn't have to put the rest of my life on hold for any time. Some of you may not be so patient and want to do it faster. I admire your fortitude in going through a lot of the bad stuff all at once.
I started taking the GNC cleanser in earnest today. Maybe it will get rid of all my cholesterol as well as the residual E.
Anyway, good luck to all our new posters and hi to all my old friends who are still out there. Love, Sheila
It depresses me so to see that each week we continue to get new people who are trying to get off the E, when will they take this drug off the market (don't they dare touch my Celebrex). I started on May 16 on page 9, a month into my weaning! Look how long this forum is now.
I am now at 6 weeks E free and am still having zaps, sleep problems, intestinal tract problems, and worst of all, the short-term memory loss problem. I'm fine a couple of hours later when I start to remember things. My husband has started making lists for me, but what can you do when you put the teakettle on to boil and forget about it - one destroyed teakettle.
I am so lucky that my (I think) only emotional problems are anxiety related. I can handle that.
Welcome to all our new people. This is a wonderful forum, and somewhere on it there is something for everyone. We all started taking the E for different reasons, but the withdrawal is similar for us all, in different ways, different things work for some. I weaned extremely slowly. It took me 5 months from 75 mg. I was able to function and didn't have to put the rest of my life on hold for any time. Some of you may not be so patient and want to do it faster. I admire your fortitude in going through a lot of the bad stuff all at once.
I started taking the GNC cleanser in earnest today. Maybe it will get rid of all my cholesterol as well as the residual E.
Anyway, good luck to all our new posters and hi to all my old friends who are still out there. Love, Sheila
catgranny last decade
Hi Sheila,
Thanks for your inspiring email. Per my previous posts, I tried to wean off and couldn't. I started taking again to feel somewhat normal. That short-term memory loss is horrible though. For example, yesterday, me and my husband came home from work, opened the door and the alarm was going off. I am always first in the house and always turn off the alarm. Yesterday, I walked in and went into the bedroom to unchange, all the while, the alarm was going off and it never phased me. My husband came in about a minute or so and looked at me completely confused as to why I didn't de-arm the alarm. Stuff like that. I notice it a lot at work too. Again, I will know next week from the insurance company if I can take a few day's off from work to wean myself off Effexor. I tried last week while working and was a basket case. That is why I had to get back on it.
It is disturbing to know you have been off of it for awhile and still having these withdrawl's. I'm sorry. Sound's like you have a good handle on thing's. Congrat's.
Hello to everyone else.
Sherri
Thanks for your inspiring email. Per my previous posts, I tried to wean off and couldn't. I started taking again to feel somewhat normal. That short-term memory loss is horrible though. For example, yesterday, me and my husband came home from work, opened the door and the alarm was going off. I am always first in the house and always turn off the alarm. Yesterday, I walked in and went into the bedroom to unchange, all the while, the alarm was going off and it never phased me. My husband came in about a minute or so and looked at me completely confused as to why I didn't de-arm the alarm. Stuff like that. I notice it a lot at work too. Again, I will know next week from the insurance company if I can take a few day's off from work to wean myself off Effexor. I tried last week while working and was a basket case. That is why I had to get back on it.
It is disturbing to know you have been off of it for awhile and still having these withdrawl's. I'm sorry. Sound's like you have a good handle on thing's. Congrat's.
Hello to everyone else.
Sherri
cavalier last decade
Hello Folks,
I am calling the Doc-no nausea, no dizziness. It's these irritating "Brain Zaps". I just can't stand it. I am on 37.5mg now and I planned to take nothing sat and see how it went but I can't function with these zaps. It's like a pulsating zap the starts in my brain and spreads. I just want to lay down and play dead.
I don't have the patience to look through the hundreds of post, please throw any suggestions at me for anything I can suggest the Doc give me to help these zaps.
Help-Tonya
I am calling the Doc-no nausea, no dizziness. It's these irritating "Brain Zaps". I just can't stand it. I am on 37.5mg now and I planned to take nothing sat and see how it went but I can't function with these zaps. It's like a pulsating zap the starts in my brain and spreads. I just want to lay down and play dead.
I don't have the patience to look through the hundreds of post, please throw any suggestions at me for anything I can suggest the Doc give me to help these zaps.
Help-Tonya
sleepyjean last decade
Laurel,
I see your 22 weeks free from E. How are your symptoms? Anything going on this far out? Just curious.
Tonya
I see your 22 weeks free from E. How are your symptoms? Anything going on this far out? Just curious.
Tonya
sleepyjean last decade
Naria- Ok brace yourself here. This is my mom's daily "fix'
8:00 a.m.
asacol 2x400mg (colan)
Cymbalta 1x60mg (?)
ditropan 1x5mg (bladder)
Prilosec 1x20 (acid reflux)
Plavix 1x75 (blood thinner)
Synthroid 1x100 mcg (thyroid)
Celebrex 1x200mg (Pain?)
Ultram 1x50 mg (pain)
Klonopin 1x0.5 (anxiety
12:00
Utltram 1x50mg Klonopin 1x.5mg
4:00
Ultram 1x50mg Klonopin 1x.5mg
Bed
Asacol 2x400 Seroquel 5x200mg
ditropan1x5mg Prilosec 1x20mg
Klonopin 1x.5mg depakote 750 mg
CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT? Some I know is neccesary, but she probably wouldn't have the heart burn if she didn't take so many drugs and why klonopin at bed when you take 1,000.00mg of Seroquil.
She actually is being treated for Borderline Personality Disorder and that is why she takes the Seroquil. Like I said she will throw these tatrums anywere. All the time.
Ellie Mae- from what I know about Bi-polar is that it isn't neccesarially your anxious thoughts Like Naria said that could be PTS syndrome. Bi-polar is more like manic. You have high days and then you drop and you are low. Can't get out of bed cant function (at extreme cases)
I tell you someone needs to really evaluate these drugs. But Effexor should be taken off the market. There are ofther safe drugs that treat the same symptoms.
To all of you still going through withdrawl. You can do it. Keep it up and never look back. I am doing so good now. I even forgott how long it has been maybe a month and a half? I don't know.
Take Care
Sadie
8:00 a.m.
asacol 2x400mg (colan)
Cymbalta 1x60mg (?)
ditropan 1x5mg (bladder)
Prilosec 1x20 (acid reflux)
Plavix 1x75 (blood thinner)
Synthroid 1x100 mcg (thyroid)
Celebrex 1x200mg (Pain?)
Ultram 1x50 mg (pain)
Klonopin 1x0.5 (anxiety
12:00
Utltram 1x50mg Klonopin 1x.5mg
4:00
Ultram 1x50mg Klonopin 1x.5mg
Bed
Asacol 2x400 Seroquel 5x200mg
ditropan1x5mg Prilosec 1x20mg
Klonopin 1x.5mg depakote 750 mg
CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT? Some I know is neccesary, but she probably wouldn't have the heart burn if she didn't take so many drugs and why klonopin at bed when you take 1,000.00mg of Seroquil.
She actually is being treated for Borderline Personality Disorder and that is why she takes the Seroquil. Like I said she will throw these tatrums anywere. All the time.
Ellie Mae- from what I know about Bi-polar is that it isn't neccesarially your anxious thoughts Like Naria said that could be PTS syndrome. Bi-polar is more like manic. You have high days and then you drop and you are low. Can't get out of bed cant function (at extreme cases)
I tell you someone needs to really evaluate these drugs. But Effexor should be taken off the market. There are ofther safe drugs that treat the same symptoms.
To all of you still going through withdrawl. You can do it. Keep it up and never look back. I am doing so good now. I even forgott how long it has been maybe a month and a half? I don't know.
Take Care
Sadie
sadie last decade
Sadie, I am glad to hear you are doing good. So are you having any symptoms at this time? Like Brain Zaps. I need to get reassurance, just kee reminded me it will go away. I do thank God that my symptoms have not been half as tramatic as most. However, these brain zaps are just horrible. I should sue the maker of E for post tramatic stress.
Tonya
Tonya
sleepyjean last decade
Tonya, I am still having some experiences that I believe are residual Effexor withdrawal, and as I understand it, withdrawal symtoms CAN cycle in one's body for up to a year, gradually fading out. I don't have the brain zaps, so it's not terrible in that regard. It's more the weird skin sensations stuff and some body pain.
Wow, Sadie, that is a lot in your mom's formulary! 60 mg. of Cymbalta would be right; that's the therapeutic dose. Cymbalta is touted for helping quell body pain, as well as treat depression. My doctor said it works too similarly as Effexor for her thinking to try it on me. Thank you, God.
It looks like your mom has a lot of pain from her list of drugs. I think you're showing .5 doses of Klonopin, which gives her a 2mg daily dose. Does she have panic attacks? I'm glad she has a new doctor reviewing all these therapies. It's such a shame -- criminal shame -- that the drugs turn people into slugs and that the docs pile them on.
L.
Wow, Sadie, that is a lot in your mom's formulary! 60 mg. of Cymbalta would be right; that's the therapeutic dose. Cymbalta is touted for helping quell body pain, as well as treat depression. My doctor said it works too similarly as Effexor for her thinking to try it on me. Thank you, God.
It looks like your mom has a lot of pain from her list of drugs. I think you're showing .5 doses of Klonopin, which gives her a 2mg daily dose. Does she have panic attacks? I'm glad she has a new doctor reviewing all these therapies. It's such a shame -- criminal shame -- that the drugs turn people into slugs and that the docs pile them on.
L.
Naria last decade
Tonya- No symptoms now. I am just trying to get rid of all of the weight I gained. I promise you can get through this.
Naria- You know my mom claims she has pain. She has fiber myalga (sp?) But It is not a sevier case. Thats another thing she is on 3 different pain meds. She has extreme anxiety, melt downs. She is so hard to even explain. The dr.'s say that her Borderline Personality disorder makes her emotionally about 4 or 5. In looking at all those meds. I think it is overmedication.
I am glad you didn't get put on Cymbalta. So what are you taking now? Where are you at with your withdrawl?
Sadie
Naria- You know my mom claims she has pain. She has fiber myalga (sp?) But It is not a sevier case. Thats another thing she is on 3 different pain meds. She has extreme anxiety, melt downs. She is so hard to even explain. The dr.'s say that her Borderline Personality disorder makes her emotionally about 4 or 5. In looking at all those meds. I think it is overmedication.
I am glad you didn't get put on Cymbalta. So what are you taking now? Where are you at with your withdrawl?
Sadie
sadie last decade
Hi wanted to let you know went to myGP and she agreed with me. I will continue to wean off Efexor with aid of Ativan and continue to up my Elavil levels. I can feel I need more. Thanks for all your support andfeed back this forumis great. My GP just about fell over when I told her how I was opening the capsules and lowering by less pellets each week.. But she was happy it was working for me. I am sure if I had of gone 37.5 every other day for 2 weeks and then quit I would be alot worse than I am. again thanks to this forum!!
ellie-mae last decade
Hi! everyone,
Three weeks ago, I started taking Effexor 37.5 mg. a day after a year free of paxil and a year before that zoloft. They just don't work for me. I started taking anti-depressant drug again because I just dont have the energy and motivation to go to work. I got scared that my employer is going to fire me if I didn,t get help. I am running out of excuses not to go to work. Anyway, Effexor works after a week of taking it but along with it came the headache on the right side of my eye as if my eye is going to pop out. I also experience jittery, nausea, and vomiting. My doctor told me that all of this sumptoms is going to go away after a month or so. Is it true? Is there a benefit of me staying on this drug? Does this drug work?
Jay
Three weeks ago, I started taking Effexor 37.5 mg. a day after a year free of paxil and a year before that zoloft. They just don't work for me. I started taking anti-depressant drug again because I just dont have the energy and motivation to go to work. I got scared that my employer is going to fire me if I didn,t get help. I am running out of excuses not to go to work. Anyway, Effexor works after a week of taking it but along with it came the headache on the right side of my eye as if my eye is going to pop out. I also experience jittery, nausea, and vomiting. My doctor told me that all of this sumptoms is going to go away after a month or so. Is it true? Is there a benefit of me staying on this drug? Does this drug work?
Jay
Jay34 last decade
Jay-
sorry your having a hard time getting the right med, but if you ask anyone on this site they will tell you to stay clear away from Effexor. I didn't have problems on it and I did ok, but I wanted off because of the weight gain and also if I ever skipped a dose it was terrible. Try other meds, really. If you choose Effexor you might need to be on it forever because the withdrawl is unberible. It's not worth the risk or experiment.
Ellie Mae- So glad you got things straight with you GP. My Dr. hadn't heard of opening the capsules eaither. I can't rember who it was on this site but they are the ones who told me and I couldn't have done it with out them.
Good Luck to all.
Sadie
sorry your having a hard time getting the right med, but if you ask anyone on this site they will tell you to stay clear away from Effexor. I didn't have problems on it and I did ok, but I wanted off because of the weight gain and also if I ever skipped a dose it was terrible. Try other meds, really. If you choose Effexor you might need to be on it forever because the withdrawl is unberible. It's not worth the risk or experiment.
Ellie Mae- So glad you got things straight with you GP. My Dr. hadn't heard of opening the capsules eaither. I can't rember who it was on this site but they are the ones who told me and I couldn't have done it with out them.
Good Luck to all.
Sadie
sadie last decade
To: Sadi,
Thanks for the advice. I will talk to my doctor if I can get my med change. What other meds are there that I can try that don't have any side effects or withdrawal symptoms?
jay,
Thanks for the advice. I will talk to my doctor if I can get my med change. What other meds are there that I can try that don't have any side effects or withdrawal symptoms?
jay,
Jay34 last decade
Hope everyone had a good weekend. I did pretty good over the weekend. Celebrated my 2nd week of weaning. I staired at my pill bottle for a couple of hours wondering if I should try skipping a dose. Then I remember how horrific Thursday & Friday were for me. So I chickened out. I stuck to my 37.5mg regement. Atleast for now! I am so afraid of not being able to function with all the brain zaps. Now I have a funny dry taste in my mouth. And I can't get full, on food that is. What is up with that? My stomach continues to grawl no matter what I eat. And the funny thing is, I'm not really feeling hungry. And what is up with the gas? I think I've had more gas in the past 2 weeks than I've had my whole life. My family is going to send me to the island with the LOST castaways if I don't get a grip.. HA HA HA
Well you guys have a good day, I'm off.
Tonya-Okie
Well you guys have a good day, I'm off.
Tonya-Okie
sleepyjean last decade
Tonya: Sounds like you are doing pretty good, other than the gas! After you go down from the 37.5, are you going to break open the caplets?
Jay: You have to get off of Effexor. That is why this forum started, was because of that drug. Try anyting but this one. Call your dr's office and see if they have some samples of something else or ask them to call you in a prescription of something else. Seriously...
Sherri
Jay: You have to get off of Effexor. That is why this forum started, was because of that drug. Try anyting but this one. Call your dr's office and see if they have some samples of something else or ask them to call you in a prescription of something else. Seriously...
Sherri
cavalier last decade
I am looking for guidance and feedback... My boyfriend's doctor prescribed effxor a couple of months ago when he explained that he was feeling stressed with work and some family issues. My boyfriend is a very confident stable invidual who has never had problems with depression... He was feeling anxiety and his doctor (who has been a good friend to him for years and always has his best interest at heart) suggested he go on stress leave and take effexor. My boyfreind was resistant -- suggesting that he probably only need a few weeks off work and some counselling--, but the doctor urged him to go on and scheduled an appointment with a psychiatrist... Apparently, the insurance compay that deals with my boyfriend's company requires that for a stress leave over 3 weeks, an anti-depressant be prescribed in order to collect pay. Although he was resistant, my boyfriend started on 37.5 once a day and was originally experiencing side effects but generally doing ok and feeling less anxiety. After a week his dosage was increased to 75 once a day and he was debilitated. I have only just learned about the hell that ocurred for hours on end... shakes, trmors, sweating, and seizures to name onlye the tips of the iceberg... Apparently he went ot his doctor a few times and tried to explain how afwul the side effects were, but never used the word "seizure" or "convulsion" becuase there are whole sections of days that he can't recall. (i only know that they were seizures because i have since witnessed them and scary does not begin to explain...) His appointment with the psychiatrist was last week... about 3-5 days afetr he deided to go off effexor cold turkey... and the psych. told him he was more solid and stable than most of the general population and should never have been prescribed and anti-depressant. Once again, my b-friend never explained the "seizures" as he had only had them alone up to that point but the psych told him to never take it again and that he was ain for a coupole of tough weeks while he went off it. Since then I have witnessed some of the scariest convulsions ever, and I feel totally helpless. He has adima and we are planning to see a new different doctor today (when he wakes up) his seizure really exhaust him... I am just looking for anyone who can tell me whether or not they have seen such a severe reaction with sucha mild dose and what the outlook is... I really want to help him and feel totally useless when I see these side effects . I'm angry with his odctor and feel like screaming... No one shold ever have to endure anything like this for even a second and the fact that so many others before him have gone through the same and worse is a travesty...
girlfriend last decade
Dear Girlfriend,
I cited this somewhere in this forum months ago. I read in some book or online source by a psychiatrist that he could understand how Effexor passed its clinical trial for depression. When it passed a few years later as a treatment for bi-polar, he was very skeptical. Finally, when it got the thumbs up for anxiety, he knew the system was flawed. Effexor is a terrible drug for anxiety (says one who experience that mistake firsthand).
OK, on to the seizure question. I have a friend who developed epilepsy a couple years ago and subsequently had 5 brain surgeries to get things straightened out. Understandably, she suffered some depression around all this and received a recommendation to go on antidepressants. She, smartly, did all the research, so she knew that Effexor can bring on seizures. So while I have not seen anyone seize while on or withdrawing from this drug, I trust that what she uncovered was accurate. And frankly, some of my first symptoms of Effexor poisoning felt like I imagine seizures to feel. (My friend, BTW, chose Lexapro and has had good resultes with it.)
I'd recommend your boyfriend ask for a neurological consult to rule out something else dire going on in his brain. But I would believe Effexor capable of bringing on such horror. Regardless of what's causing it, this needs the attention of his doctor.
Be strong! - Laurel
I cited this somewhere in this forum months ago. I read in some book or online source by a psychiatrist that he could understand how Effexor passed its clinical trial for depression. When it passed a few years later as a treatment for bi-polar, he was very skeptical. Finally, when it got the thumbs up for anxiety, he knew the system was flawed. Effexor is a terrible drug for anxiety (says one who experience that mistake firsthand).
OK, on to the seizure question. I have a friend who developed epilepsy a couple years ago and subsequently had 5 brain surgeries to get things straightened out. Understandably, she suffered some depression around all this and received a recommendation to go on antidepressants. She, smartly, did all the research, so she knew that Effexor can bring on seizures. So while I have not seen anyone seize while on or withdrawing from this drug, I trust that what she uncovered was accurate. And frankly, some of my first symptoms of Effexor poisoning felt like I imagine seizures to feel. (My friend, BTW, chose Lexapro and has had good resultes with it.)
I'd recommend your boyfriend ask for a neurological consult to rule out something else dire going on in his brain. But I would believe Effexor capable of bringing on such horror. Regardless of what's causing it, this needs the attention of his doctor.
Be strong! - Laurel
Naria last decade
Girlfriend,
I have not heard of anyone having seizures like that, especially with a low dose. I am soo sorry. I just can't imagine....YOU HAVe to get him into either emergency room because they will not let him release until they do a thoughly check on him ie brain scan etc. I think there might be more going on with him physcially instead of the Effexor, however, you won't know until you get him checked out everywhere...email us back if you want to chat. I dont know you or your boyfriend but will send prayers up immeidately
I have not heard of anyone having seizures like that, especially with a low dose. I am soo sorry. I just can't imagine....YOU HAVe to get him into either emergency room because they will not let him release until they do a thoughly check on him ie brain scan etc. I think there might be more going on with him physcially instead of the Effexor, however, you won't know until you get him checked out everywhere...email us back if you want to chat. I dont know you or your boyfriend but will send prayers up immeidately
cavalier last decade
Girlfriend-
I dont know how stubborn your boyfriend is or not, but you need to not do anything and get him into a dr. Seizure can be a rare side effect and it could be causing other kinds of issues. My dad had seizures and I know they are the scariest things to witness. You feel so helpless.
Get him to a dr. tell his friend that is a dr. and have him see a neurologist. But don't take him off stuff or add stuff until he is seen.
Good Luck,
We are here for you.
Sadie
I dont know how stubborn your boyfriend is or not, but you need to not do anything and get him into a dr. Seizure can be a rare side effect and it could be causing other kinds of issues. My dad had seizures and I know they are the scariest things to witness. You feel so helpless.
Get him to a dr. tell his friend that is a dr. and have him see a neurologist. But don't take him off stuff or add stuff until he is seen.
Good Luck,
We are here for you.
Sadie
sadie last decade
Sherri,
I've read a couple of post on breaking open the pill. How do you judge how much you get? And does it leave an awful taste in your mouth? I think with the fear I have, breaking open the pill for just a little smaller dose until I throw them away, is a great idea. My Doc never said anything about that, but If you'll throw your advice at me, I'll gladly use it. I still have quite abit of E left. SO I think I'll continue the 37.5 until next saturday. Then I'll break the pill down. WOW, I'm almost there. I never thought I could get here. My Doc had me so scared of the withdrawl symptoms I just knew I was on E for life. God Bless you all for your advice and pat on the back. I am so glad I found this board. It's just what the Doc ordered. No pun intended.
Tonya-Okie
I've read a couple of post on breaking open the pill. How do you judge how much you get? And does it leave an awful taste in your mouth? I think with the fear I have, breaking open the pill for just a little smaller dose until I throw them away, is a great idea. My Doc never said anything about that, but If you'll throw your advice at me, I'll gladly use it. I still have quite abit of E left. SO I think I'll continue the 37.5 until next saturday. Then I'll break the pill down. WOW, I'm almost there. I never thought I could get here. My Doc had me so scared of the withdrawl symptoms I just knew I was on E for life. God Bless you all for your advice and pat on the back. I am so glad I found this board. It's just what the Doc ordered. No pun intended.
Tonya-Okie
sleepyjean last decade
Hi Tonya,
Honestly I'm not sure on the capsules. I'm still on the .75 and hope to begin the .37.5 soon. I've read most of the postings and I hear all about the little pellets in the capsules and know everyone goes really sloooow on them. YOu definitely should do that.
Sadie or anyone else who reads this and know's from experience...........
do you know exactly how many Tonya should start with when opening the capsules?
Stay in Touch Tonya and let us know how you are doing and I'll be hollering at you when I get to as low dosage as you are..
sherri
Honestly I'm not sure on the capsules. I'm still on the .75 and hope to begin the .37.5 soon. I've read most of the postings and I hear all about the little pellets in the capsules and know everyone goes really sloooow on them. YOu definitely should do that.
Sadie or anyone else who reads this and know's from experience...........
do you know exactly how many Tonya should start with when opening the capsules?
Stay in Touch Tonya and let us know how you are doing and I'll be hollering at you when I get to as low dosage as you are..
sherri
cavalier last decade
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