Effexor withdrawl and symptoms, please help _{Page 70 of 140}

10 off Effexor and things are going quite well. I can feel my energy coming back and have been staying quite calm. Perhaps it's because I'm more aware of my feelings now and can control them. I guess I didn't realize how emotionally numb I felt while I was on the Effexor. I can actually feel my emotions and can shed some tears of joy or sadness. One thing that does have me concerned though. I do have trouble going to sleep...have been experiencing restless leg symdrom...something I never had before. Also experiencing hot flashes again. Thought I was done with this years ago. LOL Any suggestions anyone?

thank goodness...

I have recently in the last 2 weeks been weaned off from 150 mg doses of EffexorXR.

I'm pregnant and a mother of 3 year old twins.

Reading all of your replys to this topic has helped me.

My husband is no support and your replys gave me ammo to let him know that i am not faking my symptoms or playing them up.

I suffer from emotional breakdowns 5 or 6 times a day...brain zaps every 20 seconds it feels...basically constant with no signs of stopping.

I am unfunctionable as well.
chest pains achin joints.
nausea.
suicidal thoughts.
confusion.
bad dreams.

and on top of this all pregnancy effects as well, it's hard to decifer the two.

I must say that b4 taking this drug i was unaware of the effects it would have and i will never take any kind of prescription medication again for my depression.

If i had known then what i know now...well my depression then seems minute, compared to what iam going through now.

I'm so glad i found this site.

I had to give up... I'm on 300mg daily and the withdrawals were unbearable trying to go to 150mgs... I'm scared that I'll never be able to get off of them. I had to call my mother, I thought I was going to die between the sweating and the terrible shaking... I'm really scared by the whole idea now

Lex - stepping from 300mg to 150mg is a huge change. You have to decrease the dose much more slowly. It is no wonder you are having terrible withdrawal. The most conservative recommendation is to decrease by 37.5mg *a week*. Of course, being on 300mg means you have 2 of those red nasties every day and you're limited to how much you can change without opening the capsules and removing some of the extended-release pellets.

Ask you doctor to write a new prescription for tapering. S/he should write it for 37.5mg capsules.

I started coming down from 300mg (after 6 years) six weeks ago. This week, I am down to the 37.5mg a day. It hasn't been too bad (fortunately, my employer agreed to short-term disability). Even at this slower reduction, I have the withdrawal effects - more so now I am near the end. I guess the drug just doesn't want to let go and changing from 75 to 37.5mg is a 50% reduction compared to the first week of 300 to 262.5mg ('just' a 12% change).

BUT THE BENEFITS OUTWEIGHT ANY WITHDRAWAL EFFECTS.

Here is what I have gained:

1. Bundles and bundles more energy
2. I get up with the sun!
3. I go to bed late (after 11pm)
4. I don't take ANY naps during the day
5. I can do the gardening etc
6. I can do all the things I'm meant to do around the house instead of sitting on my apathetic backside or trying to sleep for 18 hours a day
7. Sexual dysfunction has completely gone
8. I'm eating the same amount - even though I'm much more active
9. I enjoy stuff!
10. My restless legs have all but cleared up

For years, I have been seriously sleep deprived and had no energy/interest in anything. I think all those years of my body trying to cope has suddenly given me an enormous amount of stamina. For the last two weeks, I have averaged about 4 or 5 hours in bed a night and can still achieve much more than before. The only peculiarity is that I feel jet-lagged all the time and have constant thirst. Even if that lasts, it will be a small price to pay for all the gains.

So - please don't give up. Talk to your doctor and if s/he doesn't 'get it', do what I did and take a huge stack of print-outs from this forum!

Take care.

why is everyone getting OFF effexor? I just started taking it, and am loving it. However, I am scared of becoming dependent on it. I hate the hassle of having to take pills every day, but i liken it to having to put my contact lenses in daily as well. What did those who took it think about it? I am on effexor xr i think, is that time released? is it different than the regular one? thank you all in advance!

glitteron123 - I am getting off effexor becuase I started having health problems that I never had before taking effexor. I was also tired of not feeling. I really think my doctor made the wrong choice for me.

I had suffered from panic attacks and some anxiety during a stressful time in my life. I had no personal or family history of depfression or anxiety. Unfortunalty at that time I was willing to take something to make me feel better - a quick fix.. what I really needed to do was take some time off and take care of myself.

After I got through the stressful time I tried to stop taking it and found terrible side effects. I didn't know they were side effects, I just thought something was wrong. I started going to the doctor and found that I had VERy high cholesterol despite healthy eating. I gained 40 pounds, despite running 5K's and vigourous hiking. My liver enzymes were elevated and my thyroid was low. I had high blood pressure. I had none of these things before effexor.

To top it off I had no desire for sex or any type of social interaction. I didn't want to do anything with my friends, run, hike or anything. As a result I gained more weight.

A couple of months ago after a lot of thinking, and no help from my docotr, I decided it had to be the effexor. My doctor just wanted me to take more medication!

I went off the drig quicker than recommended, but I just wanted off. I went from 150mg to zero in three weeks. I have now been been off of it almost three weeks. I am still battling fatigue, but I think that is becuase of the weight gain that I still have to tackle. Other than that I feel like socializing, laughing (I have laughed to tears several times - something I haven't done in over a year!)I WANT to do things liek run, hike, etc...I just have to get my fitness back up.

Some people NEED effexor.. I didn't.

gabdom - I had trouble sleeping when I first came off effexor. I found that cherry concentrate helped. I take two capsules before bed. I found the information on a website called theroadback,org

I really think it helps.

depression runs in my family. i guess you are right, some people need it and others don't. i still feel like doing things, laugh, and other stuff, on it. thanks and goodluck!

glitteron123 - I needed Effexor at the time I was put on it (about 6 years ago). The previous meds hadn't worked and my doctor uses Effexor usual only when all the others have failed.

The main problem - and is echoed throughout this forum - is the myriad of side effects that it creates and the difficulty to come off the drug once it has done its job. The side effects creep up on you very slowly. It is very insidious - it took my life away for over 3 years...I'm finally getting it back.

Hi All,

It is so nice to have this forum!
Events over one month:
Reduced from 150mg > 75mg 2 weeks > 37.5mg 2 weeks no problems... 0mg HEY What's happening!
I would not have know had I not gone off paxil before but that was NOTHING compared to this!
I will save everyone the list, just read prior posts (exclued: shocks, drymouth, vomiting (although feel like it 24-7!).
I also had SEVERE pimples and HUGE... a lot of scarring from this... BEWARE... came on very slowly so I didn't even know it was from E and disappeared completely by 37.5mg Duh, wonder what caused it!

I am going to try your rememdies... I hope they help. I sat my son's (19&21yrs) & wife down and talked with them about what is going on. They are all very supportive.

Have to go,
Tim

Hi Everyone. I was on E for about 3 years. I was first on Celexa and had some bad side effects from it, so my Dr. switched me to E. I was on 75mg a day. A few months ago I told my Dr. I wanted off it completely. Since I started taking E, I have gained weight, have ZERO energy, all I wanna do is sleep.. plus I have acid reflux which my Dr. said is caused by E. My Dr. wanted to put me on Welbutrin along with Effexor, I said no, that I wanted off it altogether. Well, I went down to 37.5mg a day for a few months. I really didn't feel any different when lowering my dosage, but when I tried to stop completely, I got very sick. My Dr. gave me Prozac, 10mg, and told me to take that instead of the E and eventually I could stop the Prozac without the harsh withdrawls. Anyway, I have been E free for going on 6 days now. It's been HORRIBLE! Even with taking the Prozac! I'm sure it could be worse, but this just doesn't seem right. If I woulda known then what I know now, I woulda never started taking E in the first place. I have all the withdrawl symptoms that people have listed in the previous posts before me. I just feel like I'm stoned or something. I can't concentrate at all, my brain is all fuzzy. I am severely dizzy and lightheaded, which makes me nauseous. I hope these symptoms let up soon. Now I know what a drug addict feels like!

have had some very serious side effects since i started taking remeron for 7 weeks and now effexor xr at 150 mg for 9 weeks. have numb toes, tingling in fingers, sweats, chills, insomnia that i need to take ambien for to get to sleep, tremors, leg always moving. doctor is taking me off the effexor at 37.5 per week and started me on prozac at 10mg. anybody have the same symptoms.

Dear Glitteron, I felt exactly the same when I started on it, my advice to you would be- do not start taking a higher dose when you start becoming tolerant to the one you're on. and definately DO NOT DRINK when on this drug, if you really feel you must, drink as little as possible (you'll probably find you don't need much to get drunk anyway) Please know that this drug has many benefits but can make you appathetic to others feelings and to your own actions. Just take care xxx

Hello friends,
I am feeling lousy these past few days. I am taking 4.5 mg and tried to go to every other day but I just couldn't do it. I was nauseous, dizzy, irritable , slurred speech and I just have too much responsibility to be like that. One of my special needs adults picked this as a time to behave badly and challenge every instruction. I am so cranky I can't stand myself. My hubby is a saint, I don't know if I could be as patient. I have wanted to stop the stuff all togeher but its not working for me so my hubby says to just go slower so that is what I am doing. Hoping today will be a happier one.

Delaney

Hang in there Delaney!! Luckily you have support and you know the benefits will eventually outweight this pain. If I had a job that required the patience liek yours does I would have had to go slower, too.

You are doing great!

Hello all!
I am glad I found this websie as I too am not happy with Effexor. I went off it last Thursday due to feeling common side effects like heavy sweating. I never thought going off a drug would cause such hell.

My heart races, nausea and vommiting, slur speech, memory loss, irritated, tremor, difficulty sleeping....to name a few withdrawl problems.

I have been to the doc and they ruled out pregnancy, bladder infection, heart trouble, etc. They did say my heart was racing faster than normal, but EKG came out okay.

I do not recommend this drug to anyone. My doc wants me to start a new drug to help with stress and anxiety, but I am deathly afraid to go back on any drug.

How long do these withdrawl problems last for? I'm going on 6 days now.

Marcy

Irvine, CA

Laura,
Thankyou so much for your kind words. They brought tears to my eyes. I am feeling much better today. It is my 37th birthday and my hubby's 40th. He sent me and my daughter to the spa for the day. Facials, pedicures , body scrubs, and massages!! Wow a little self indulgence feels awesome!!
Thanks again I needed to hear encouragement the other day and you were there for me. It helped so much!!

Welcome to all the new Effex kickers!! You will feel so much better soon and you have made an incredible decision to take charge of your body!!

Good luck,
Delaney

Happy Birthday Delaney! I turned 37 this year, too.

What a great present that you husband gave you... I bet that was wonderful! Enjoy the rest of your birthday weekend! You have a lot to celebrate.

I just found this forum this morning and it has been very reassuring reading what everyone else has beeen going through.

I was on 300MG dose for about 3 years then went to 250 MG about a year ago. I didn't like some of the things and was experiencing and felt like it was side effects. I also didn't like the way I felt if I missed 1 dose - didn't think it could be good for me if it did that to me!

I dropped 37.5 mg every 2 weeks then took 37.5 mg every other day for 2 weeks. A week ago Saturday was the last day I took it. This past Thursday I started feeling so sick I came home from work. I was in bed all day Friday. I was sure I had a 'bug'. In addition to the upset stomach i was experiencing the 'brain jolts' and dizziness. By yesterday I began to think it could be withdrawls so I started to research on the internet and have been amazed by what I have found.

My question is - I am debating oing back on and doing what I have seen suggested here and

Break open the pill and taking

18.75 - 2 weeks
9.4 - 2 weeks
4.7 - 2 weeks

Just don't know if I should do this or, since I have already been off for 1 week just tough it out. Any recommendations?

I have a very demanding and mentally challenging job and am concerned I cannot function like I am now.

Thanks!

PS: I just happened to start going to an accupuncturist for a back problem when I started getting off of this and she warned me some people have a lot of difficulty and I should take it slow. When I asked the physician who had been prescribing this she seemed surprised and said she hadn't had anyone have problems - and she is in the mental health industry!! I am apalled!!

Dear flgurl,

If you find that you cannot function in the next week, I would recommend going back on one of the smaller doses you suggested. When I was weaning, I also had to function under stress and I dropped my dosages by half, but it took me at least three weeks to go through each cycle before I felt I was ready to drop again. Each person is different because of their body weight and chemistry. Because I weaned so slowly no one realized I was in bad shape, I was able to bluff it and make decisions that turned out okay. If you cannot handle how you feel now, you might try starting back on the 18.75 and see how that goes. No matter what, you are going to feel rotten after the final drop, but how rotten is unknown. I felt really bad the first week after the final drop and then I was pretty much okay except for some side effects that eventually disappeared. Who knows, you might even be okay by just stopping now. But you will go through a little hell when you do stop.

Someone once suggested getting a 20 mg dose of Prozac which has a long half life and this seems to make the adjustment easier. You might ask your doc about that.

Note to all: I have been 11 months E free now and I feel just wonderful. About a month or so ago I realized that I had my life back in full Technicolor. I will always have the anxiety and occasional panic attack but I can deal with those. I went on the E originally because I was deeply depressed after a series of events and two serious surgeries and I could not pull out of that depression by myself. The E did what it was supposed to do as most of you realized while on it, however, once it finished doing what it was supposed to do, the E turned evil. (Usually, this is when doctors up your dosage.) I hated feeling like a zombie.

You are all in my prayers that you will get through this time. Again, as I have said before to quote Frazier Crane, “good mental health.”

Love, Sheila

Well, I should have been rid of Effexor a few days ago following 7 weeks of gradual tapering from 300mg. Last week I was taking 37.5mg a day.

Friday was the first day without taking any.

Saturday was living hell but I decided to experience it so I can explain it to my doc etc.

Sunday - started taking half a capsule.

If I keep dropping by 50% a week, I expect I'll still be doing this for another four or five weeks.

Frankly, the effects I'm experiencing after 'missing' one day of 37.5mg are just as powerful as those when I missed a day a 300mg.

Damned stuff. A week ago, there was light at the end of the tunnel but this drug just does not want to let up.

Bye for now...

John.

hey all,
im going to my doctor today,
and he mentioned last time i saw him a few months ago that he wanted to raise my dose from 75 mg to 150 mg. double it. for no reason! i told him last time i was happy and content w 75. Why would he want to double it for no reason? What is his motive?

glitteron123,

I went back and looked at your last post where you could not understand why we were all getting off when you loved the E. The first 6 months I was on it, I called it my happy pill because it made me feel so much better. A year and a half later when I felt like a Stepford Wife, no emotions whatever, I asked my doctor about it. He wanted to up the dosage. That is when I decided to get off. And I am not sorry.

My advice to you is quit while you are ahead. I never went above 75 mg. That did the trick for me. Why is your doctor wanting to raise your dosage? Make sure you get a satisfactory answer from him before you make that decision. If he is a gp or family doc, they really don't know enough about the side effects of these SSRIs. Anyway, whatever you decide to do, I wish you well.

Love, Sheila

dont know if any one read my previous posts..but here is what I have to say.

I was on 150 for 3 years. Slowly tampered to 17.5 mg.

I stopped taking Effexor in March 3rd week. Had worse zaps spell (for over 2 months).


This is july. I rarely get a zap. Sometimes when I get streesed out I get one or two at that time (I does not feel them anymore ..:-)))))

I am totally free of Effexor now. I started laughing out, sense of humor got better and emotions got better.


I do not even remember that I was on Effexor some time back.

Thanks to GOD !!!

good luck to you all

molbiol - - I remember yours becuase I have been waiting for these first two months to pass! I was not happy to hear that they lasted that long, but I was also releived to hear that they do eventually go away!!!

I took my last dose on Thrusday 6/15/06. That means this week will be 4 weeks completely off. i really saw a drop-off of the zaps early last week, but I still get them...mostly in the afternoon. I just try to drinking plently of water. I really think they are worse when I get dehydrated. I also have found that I cannot drink alcohol at all. Even after one drink I feel terrible the enxt day - zaps all day long.

I just started exercising again. Even after three days of walking at a moderate pace I feel more alive.

I have been on Effexor XR for 7 years. Like others, I went to the doctor for a check-up last year, and she doubled my Effexor from 75 to 150. I didn't ask for it at all. The Dr said that the 75 dosage was the wrong dose for someone of my stature. It didn't matter that I was ok with the 75, she was just going by some stupid chart. I am 58, husband got ill, and my insurance was cancelled. The Effexor XR is so expensive that I had to get off it. Paying those drug bills were making me even more anxious. The doctor was no help, except telling me come in for a visit and then get the dosages to wean myself off E. What part of NO-insurance did she not hear, I don't know! So now, I am on day 7 of 'cold turkey'. I have all the symptoms that those of you before me had, but hearing you talk about them was just so helpful When you refer to ZAPS, I was calling them racecars. Sounds like the Indy500 cars going past my head. The sweats, no sleep, body aches, sinus drainage and gagging, crying ( I cried watching a Walker Texas Ranger rerun), and fear of never being normal again are horrible. I almost gave in today, and bought the Effexor RX with my phone/cable/internet payment. Then I found you guys. Thank you! Tomorrow I will try the epsom salts bathtub. I do not want to be on this drug anymore.