Effexor withdrawl and symptoms, please help _{Page 56 of 140}

jami,
thanks for your reply. It is my 7th day on E. I am feeling very jittery and anxious. To the point that I can barely stand it. Good news though. My doctor called and they found something in my thyroid tests. I am hoping that is why I am so depressed. It would change my life to know that I am not crazy! I will go see her tomorrow. Hopefully I will be able to get of my anti depressants, and sleeping pills. I have had a rough few months, and would love to get my life back to normal. Thanks to all of you for your support.

Hey Catgranny,
No the tears have not stopped. It is constantly on my mind. I feel like I am going crazy. No, he did not leave me with the house. I have found out lots of things recently however about the whole purchase of the house. Apparently he is and has been filing bankrupcy. Yes...already. I don't know what happened, I had no clue. Until right before the walls caved in. I'm not sure what was going on there, and it is not something that he is willing to discuss. As a matter of fact, we don't talk at all. He never even called us over christmas. I know that I am stronger than this, it's just that I feel like I have been blindsided and left standing in a state of hurt and confusion. ONe day we were delirously in love and the next. Nothing!
About your 4th month effexor free. I remember feeling the same way. (weepy) and it lasted for a little while, maybe a couple months. It has gone away. Well except for the uncontrollable sobbing that occurs nightly from my recent heartbreak. And the weight is coming off. I feel good and I even look at myself in the mirror and can actually like what I see. I am just really having a hard time with this. I miss him so much.
I'm at work and have to go now. Thanks for your reply
Love,
Regent (Lori)

just had to give you a big hug lori!! :::opens arms wide and pulls ya in:::smooch!

Lori, I've written several replies, and each sounds like crap. It's sad to hear of the appalling situation with your fiance, and please know that I am holding you in my heart and hoping this can move to a better place for you and your children.

Know I am here. My e-mail address in is my personal file, so feel free to contace me directly if you want to.

Many hugs and lots of energy coming from Minnesota to Michigan!

Laurel

Hi, I recently came off of effexor xr and I was told to try 5-htp. I got the Nature's Way brand without animal deriatives. Maybe this could help.

-bw

I'am blown away at all the responses to the symptoms of Effexor. I'am so glad I found this forum because I was just given a prescription of this seemingly chaotic drug. I thank all of you who have posted insight to the disturbing effects of Effexor. I would have started my cycle of mania tommorow if not for all of you. I will now proceed to light my stove pilot with my prescription. Thanks again and i sincerly wish the best for all of those who have been unfairly sucked into this harmful drug. I have suffered with depression all my life and I've been through the nightmares that some of these drugs induce "paxil and so on". I really do beleive that Lithium Carbonate is widely over looked do to the lack of profit for big drug corp's. All in all it has saved my life, sometimes i just get greedy and think that if i add something with my Lithium I'll reach some superman status. Again thank you all for speaking out "you really saved my *ss"

RE: 5-HTP

I have also heard good things about 5-HTP, but please heed this warning. Do not take it while you are taking any pharmaceuticals for depression/anxiety -- especially if on benzos (ativan, klonopin, xanax, etc.). Mixing could cause a nasty interaction.

Laurel

Happy New Year everyone. My puter has been down so I couldn't post. I have missed the board. How is everyone doing. Sherri, Sadie & Naria I see you guys are still hanging around. I am glad to see more E victims have joined the board.

UPDATE: I have been "E" free since Oct 18th, 2005. As many of you know detoxing was really rough on me as it was on many of you. As of today, I am still having alot of headaches, fatigue and I am taking Mellitonin for my insomnia. My husband is happy to see I am a sensitive person again. He thought I had ran out of tears until a couple of weeks ago. We got some bad family news and I actually cried. My brain zaps are few and far between, thank you Jesus. I went in weds for a checkup and I have put on 10lbs, unfortunetly. I had 2 weeks off of work and it was wonderful. I feel refreshed for the new year. All in all, I am doing good. God has blessed me and my family and I am feeling alot better. I would never wish what I went thru on anyone.

I pray you are all doing well. I hope I can stay in touch now that I am back online. I have really missed my friends here and your advice. I have found that this battle is something that will take awhile. Don't get me wrong I have come soooooo far since October, but it will be awhile before I am 100%. But I will conquer the effects of "E". I am winning!

Happy New Year everyone. My puter has been down so I couldn't post. I have missed the board. How is everyone doing. Sherri, Sadie & Naria I see you guys are still hanging around. I am glad to see more E victims have joined the board.

UPDATE: I have been "E" free since Oct 18th, 2005. As many of you know detoxing was really rough on me as it was on many of you. As of today, I am still having alot of headaches, fatigue and I am taking Mellitonin for my insomnia. My husband is happy to see I am a sensitive person again. He thought I had ran out of tears until a couple of weeks ago. We got some bad family news and I actually cried. My brain zaps are few and far between, thank you Jesus. I went in weds for a checkup and I have put on 10lbs, unfortunetly. I had 2 weeks off of work and it was wonderful. I feel refreshed for the new year. All in all, I am doing good. God has blessed me and my family and I am feeling alot better. I would never wish what I went thru on anyone.

I pray you are all doing well. I hope I can stay in touch now that I am back online. I have really missed my friends here and your advice. I have found that this battle is something that will take awhile. Don't get me wrong I have come soooooo far since October, but it will be awhile before I am 100%. But I will conquer the effects of "E". I am winning!

Tonya

Hi everyone, I was browsing the internet when I came across this sight. I have been on Effexor for over 3 years and I am currently on 75 mg. I have been on 225 but I am working with my Dr. to wean myself off as we believe it is time. I am concerned about the side effects, b/c I have missed a dose on accident, but I know that I will be able to pull through. I am most concerned about losing the 40+pounds I have gained. I have always been too skinny, so I didn't mind some extra meat! But, my stomach is always bloated and I look pregnant all the time...you wouldn't believe how many people ask me!! I know the weight won't fall off, but I just need some reassurance that it is possible..thank you in advance!

Hello all, my husband is trying to get ogg this crud. Is there anything tha I can do to help him through this? I worry about him constantly, especailly when he "short circuts" he is down to every four days at 37.5 with neuroton as an aid. What is next and is there anything I can do to help? Thanks Tigger

I have a question to ask you all. Ever since taking effexor, I have been extremely photosenstive/light sensitive. As soon as I go out side, I find the daylight extremely blinding even on overcast days. When I look up at the sky I start to see lights/stars in my eyes. Has anyone else experienced this and the light sensitivity and does it go away once off the E. I have been off E. for about a month now and am still suffering this side effect.

Dream I have been effexor free since May of 2005 and since July when most of my symptoms of withdrawl were gone I have lost 40 pounds (I gained close to 70 during the 2 1/2 years on it) no it didn't fall off it took some work but I finally lost that bloated look about 4-5 months after I was done with the E and now loosing weight is actually possible (I failed many a time while on E to loose the weight). So yes you can expect to loose the bloatedness and some pounds too if you work at it a bit! Chin up!

Jami

Tigger have him try some Chaser hangover remedy its supposed to help with the vertigo etc. Read page 54 of this forum thread I gave some of MY advice to Jon about how to help alleviate some of the side effects though there are many different ones people have tried and swear by throughout this forum. Goodluck and it really does help that your there for him and support him.Good for you! My husband was such a supporter he really helped me more then even he knows. Keep us posted on his progress.

Jami

Thanks Jami, I will. I am trying to get him to do the detox and try other things like chaser. Thanks again. Tigger

Hi! I have just been crazy all day - the dizziness - its crazy and the crying spells - even worse! Not that I am happy any one else feels this way - I am happy to know I am not the only one with these issues - Unfortunately my husband lost his job and our insurance was terminated - because he is diabetic we had to pay big $$$ to make sure he was covered and I couldnt afford to pay for it outright - my Dr was great and gave me some samples and told me to call when I ran out - well I ran out about 4 days ago and I feel worse now then I did before I even started it in the first place. Thank you so much for the piece of mind and great suggestions..... I went to GNC today and bought the Detox drink stuff and also a product called Rescue Remedy - its a homeopathic sublingual (sp??) and really helped me get through the day - Thanks again and I will be checking back soon!
God Bless and I hope this finds everyone well - (see here I go - little miss crybaby!

Opps - I forgot - so I called my Dr to get more samples until my work insurance kicks in, which is Feb 1st - and talk about the run around -telling me they cant give me any more samples until I see him again - well HELLO!!! My insurance doesnt kick in for 16 days - and I cant afford a office visit ($200) and prescription for a month ($150) - Yeah like thats not going to stress me out!!!! Thanks again - I was thinking of going back on it when my insurance picks up - but after reading 56 pages of people having the same if not worse issues then I have run across - I think Id be better off sticking to my passion - Pilates - but its kinda hard to work out when you can barely focus! And thos brain zaps! they STINK!!!! thanks again!

I want off Effexor XR terribly and would appreciate any advice or experiences that have been succesfull with little or no withdrawal problems. I have been asking my shrink for years to reduce my dosage but he refuses. I am now convinced he is simply covering his hind side.

I have been on Effexor XR for 4 years for depression and tryclic, paxil, Zoloft, and host other SSRI's. None have ever helped. My shrink has me on Klonopin 12 mg/day, Valium 40 mg/day, Remeron 45 mg/day & Synthroid 0.1mg/day. The Effexor makes me so jumpy I need the benzo';s just to calm down.

I have suicidal ideations which I never had before going on Effexor and I don't want to kill myself. I am convinced this comes from the Effexor.

I have become convinced that this cocktails of meds has me so psycologically locked down that I cant make any improvements in my life.

I am seeing other doctors unbeknownst to my shrink for help getting off but thier advice is radical 4 week step-down withdrawal which I have found to be too radical and simply unbearable.

Please help with any procedures that have proven successfull. I have been clasified disabled for 6 years and not been able to work all that time. I want my life back!

Thanks,
Ken

hi, I'm Jennifer nad have just joined because I stumbled upon this site while looking for info on whether I could take St.John's Wort while weaning off Effexor. From what I've read it, it looks like that is permissable(correct me if I'm wrong)I've been on and off antidepressants for about 9 years for everything from post partum depression to anxiety attacks to severe life altering migraines. My last round of Effexor has lasted for about 3+ years and I feel like it has lost it's effectiveness. Actually, it feels like it is causing depression. It keeps my anxiety at bay but it doesn't help headaches or depression.I know I need something to help me and would like to try St.John's Wort.My complaints with Effexor are the zombie like state. I am perfectly content to stare at a wall all day, then I hate myself each evening for not taking care of my house(which, BTW, stays completely trashed and is in chaos because of my state of mind) I tell myself tomorrow will be a better day but it never is. I have 2 kids age 9 and 4 and I just go through the motions of being a mother and I don't want to be like that anymore. Another complaint I have with Effexor is my sex life with my husband. I have no libido and am unable to acheive orgasm. Even if I think I'm in the mood, as soon as we get started I realize I'm not into it and to be blunt...I have very little sensation "down there". I think this is a new side effect of Effexor which has recently struck me, my body's way of say "ENOUGH! Get this stuff out of me!" So recently I began slowly tapering from a dose of 225 and am now down to 37.5. Now i'm really feeling the withdrawl.I'm hoping to get started on the St. John's Wort NOW to help me finally drop the effexor. I'm irritable and STARVING, is the hunger a common side effect? I can't stop eating! My hedacahes are a huge issue these days too. I'm hoping they are mostly withdrawl headaches.Also, I've read about the brain zaps. What are those? I've also read from someone, maybe Jon33 about the dizziness when turning his head and /or eyes. I've had that to a pretty severe level even long before I began tapering off. For those who use St John's Wort,what is a good dosage, and should I taper my dosage up at first?

St. John's Wort is especially dangerous to take at the same time as SSRIs due to the possibility of serotonin poisoning. to be safe, I would NOT take St. John's Wort until you've stopped taking Effexor. I'm pretty sure it's contraindicated for all phamaceutical antidepressants, just as other herbal remedies are (SAM-E, 5HTP) and just as herbal remedies taken to treat anxiety should not be taken with pharmaceutical anti-anxiety drugs.

Laurel

Good Morning all! I cant tell you how releived I am that I stumpled across this site - and Ken - I am soooo sorry that you are going through all of this... Have you been checked for underlying mental health issues - Bi-Polar/ Manic espisodes etc. My Husband has gone through Detox from GHB to Alchohol over the last 6 years and about 2 years ago after being in the ER at least 50X's - he was diagnosed Bi-Polar. He is currently in Rehab (his first and hopefully last time) and is convinced as well that - his antidepressants made it that much worse without knowing the causes of it all. And because of all of the Ins and outs of detox and manic episodes I was having terrible panic attacks and was started on Effexor - which I thought really was helping but now I know I was wrong wrong wrong! I wish I had a magic answer for you but you are doing the best thing now - gathering information. The first, second, and third time I stopped taking Effexor - the withdrawl symptoms I thought were how I am NOT on the drug and now I know that it is the drug that caused me to feel this way....and its not ALL IN YOUR HEAD - like most people want to believe - you have the drive and the want to have a better way of life and I will add you to my prayers that you find your Nirvana....And Jennifer I TOTALLY get what you are saying about your libido - I thought it was just because my Husband was going through all of his stuff that I was just letting go of that part of me - but that never stopped me from "digging for my keys" until I was on Effexor and even that was too much energy to expend. And you really feel like your numb. AND the eating - I hear you - I lost 60 lbs before I was on Effexor - the skinniest I have ever been in my life and I was happy! Since being on effexor - I gained 30 back - YEAH like thats not going to make me want to freak out! Its like a crazy cycle - take the pills to make you feel better - but then you have anxiety when you realize the weight gain and the headaches! I am printing out your reply specifically to show ti my husband that never believed I could have headached everyday - I would take 8-10 Advil everyday - and sometime that didnt help! So thank you..... and also the starting at the wall - I lauged because seriously that is so right! Everyday it was tomorrow and when tomorrow came - well maybe the next day..... The one thing that has really helped my is Yoga/Pilates - or sometimes just taking a long bath! St Johns Wort does work ok - so does HTP-5 - I started taking Dramamine for the dizziness and HTP-5 helps with the hunger. The brainzaps feel like you are getting a electric shock - or like when you have the spins and you are rounding the corned you get the feeling that makes you squint - thats what it feels like for me - which unfortunately makes it hard to sleep because you feel as though you are spinning around and around.....

I have a question to ask you all. Ever since taking effexor, I have been extremely photosenstive/light sensitive. As soon as I go out side, I find the daylight extremely blinding even on overcast days. When I look up at the sky I start to see lights/stars in my eyes. Has anyone else experienced this and the light sensitivity and does it go away once off the E. I have been off E. for about 2 months month now and am still suffering this side effect. My eyes have also been very blurry ever sonce the effexor. Can some one Please give some feed back on this, I am really worried about my eyes.

I'm not doing well at all. I slowly tapered off effexor then went on St. John's Wort and sat back and waited to feel good again. The tapering off was hell on earth. I didn't think I could handle it, the St. John's Wort that I've been on for a week has not helped at all. I am at rock bottom . The worst part of this is that I've been having suicidal thoughts. I tell myself it's irrational and that I'll get past this. I am a Christian and this type of thinking is not me. Now that I'm off effexor, I'm very moody. Actually that's a serious understaement. I can't stand me. Every little thing is the end of the world. I think of suicide at least twice a day and whatever is causing this irrational thinking is telling me that it is the perfect solution because things will never get better. When it goes through my mind it seems logical and reasonable,just as normal as brushing my teeth. I have 2 children and would never do this in my right mind but I'm afraid that part of me that is not "my right mind" will cause me to try it or do it. I'm going up to 3 days without a shower(YUCK). I want to go to the doctor today, I need emotional help bad today but I can't get ready. My emotional state is keeping me from leaving the house. I'm going back on meds. I have to. My kids deserve better than this. Toughing it out isn't an option,I'm afraid I won't live that long. This doesn't even seem like me talking.

Jennnifer,

It's okay to go back on meds if you need them, but you do NOT have to take Effexor.

It's okay to have irrational feelings after what you've been through, but it's important to recognize them for what they are.

Perhaps you could also find a therapist to help you through this time. You don't have to do meds or suffer without them without the guidance of someone trained to help people manage their psyches. :-)

Thinking of and praying for you,
Laurel

Hi everyone,
I started Effexor early November, that's I guess 3 months ago. started with 35mg and then 75 for about a month and then at 150 since.
I felt like I had no modivation whatsoever, I was hopeing it would give me some energy and put a spring back into my step, but instead I was yahning all the time and could sleep at a drop of a hat, had a great night sleep, but increasingly had trouble getting out of bed in the morning. So I thought this is not working and just stoped the effexor three days ago. I had the best day on Sunday, and just then I found your forum. I thought, well, perpaps you guys have just been on the drug to long, I certainly didn't feel that way. Yesterday all hell broke loose. I felt these brain zaps you guys are talking about and had a caughing fit I could not stop. felt totally disoriented and counted my blessings that I was able to make it back from just driving to the bank. Last night was pure hell, could not sleep and today I can't see without feeling dizzy and like you guys said, feeling like I'm drunk. I took my 150 mg. about an hour ago, but things have not improved. I made an appointment with my doctor for 2 pm. Oh my God, I had no idea. Please I hope some of you have gone thru this and have come out the other end feeling ok.
Doris

Hi, Doris,

It's likely you won't read this until after your doctor appointment. Some doctors know how troublesome Effexor is; others don't have a clue.
Some people have a great experience on Effexor, and when their doc changes the med, they sail through the titration without a hitch. Go figure. (I personally know three such people.)

So, it's your choice if you want to stay on E or switch medications. It sounds like you are not happy with the results and are intersted in switching or stopping all meds. Either way, you will have to go through the process of stepping down and experiencing some withdrawal.
It is survivable. It is not pleasant. But in my case, it was more pleasant than being on the drug.

Good luck, and do report on what your doc says and what you decide.

Laurel