Posted by jujube on December 19, 2004, at 23:28:49
In reply to no more effexor, posted by mari vana on December 19, 2004, at 20:05:55
Your story sounds like mine. I was on Effexor for 6 months, and, during that time, told the doctor a number of times that the Effexor was not helping me (I was lethargic, apathetic and apprehensive). Like you, I was given a dose increase, which just made matters worse. Things finally came to a head when I was put on Depo Provera by my gynocolgist and the depression and anxiety worsened significantly (in spite of being on Effexor). At that point, the doctor switched my med, and I tapered off Effexor over two weeks (from 150 mg to 0). It is hard to say whether I experienced much in the way of withdrawal since I was so physically (dizzy and throwing up daily for 1.5 to 2 months) and emotionally (depressed, anxious, mood swings) ill from the Depo Provera.
If you do a search on this board, you will find advice on how to deal with the withdrawal from Effexor, which, for some, can be quite brutal. It has been suggested that tapering over a period of a month or a couple of months can lessen the severity of the withdrawal. Also, some people have asked their doctors for a small prescription of Prozac (which has a long half-life compared to Effexor which has a short half-life) can help with the withdrawals.
Good luck to you.
Tamara
> I would just like to know how to get off effexor. I've been using it for about 8 months, there has been no change and everytime i talk to my doctor about the medication not working and trying something else, he simply increases the dosage and then control for the side effects by giving me more medications. I've tried to get off it on my own once, lets just say it wasn't a pleasant experience. But right now I'm really sick and tired of this and my dr. so I've decided to come off it, one way or another. I'd like to try the safe way first, right now I'm 450mg.
poster:jujube
thread:431848
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041217/msgs/431911.html