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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by wiley on September 2, 2000, at 19:22:01
In reply to Re:Intractable Effexor Withdrawl , posted by JulieK on August 23, 2000, at 21:23:13
I am so glad to have found this site. I had my husband online yesterday, trying to find some answers to what I was experiencing. I was too dizzy to read. I ended up going to the ER, thinking I was going to pass out. I went off 150mg, not knowing I needed to taper. My doctor didn't know that either. WOW. I am back on 37.5mg today, and for the next 4 days. Then I am to go back off. I am also taking 50mg Zoloft. I understand that Prozac helps with the Effexor weaning, does Zoloft produce similar results? I'm pretty worried about going back off this entirely. I won't use this drug again after this is all over. Brenda
Posted by A on September 3, 2000, at 21:27:00
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
After reading several of these posts, it's obvious the drug effects everyone differently. In my case, I've had very little side effects. And some very good ones as well.
I was always fearful of talking to strangers. Now, it's so easy! I feel I'm more creative on the job. When I think of certain things that upset me, I literally shed half of a tear instead of an hours worth. I'm not a fair skinned blue eyed blond and have experienced some hateful, racists remarks in the past. They were very hurtful. But now, I don't take them so personally.
So give Effexor XR a try. If you don't like it, remember, you can always stop.
Posted by Enoch on September 8, 2000, at 14:10:50
In reply to Re: withdrawal, posted by maggie on April 13, 2000, at 14:32:34
Hi,
I guess I'm the worst case scenario that everyone is afraid to mention.
I quit effexor completely after three weeks of weaning down from 150 mg. Four days into it I had what the docs are referring to as a manic episode and had to be put on ativan just to stop me from endangering myself or others. I haven't worked in three days and the symptoms don't seem to show any signs of letting up. If it wasn't for the ativan, my keyboard would be stained with tears right now. Agony, woe, pain, blah blah blah.
I know that I'm pretty rare, but it seems like the makers of effexor and all these other meds should have spent some time researching the effects of withdrawl from their medications, rather than making us do it for them. They've made quite a bit of money off of us for some time now. Maybe they should use a little of it now to research the effect of the meds they put on the market. I know, soapboxing, but I'm a little manic right now, so forgive.
Posted by stjames on September 8, 2000, at 22:06:06
In reply to Re: withdrawal, posted by Enoch on September 8, 2000, at 14:10:50
Hi,
I guess I'm the worst case scenario that everyone is afraid to mention.
I quit effexor completely after three weeks of weaning down from 150 mg. Four days into it I had what the docs are referring to as a manic episode and had to be put on ativan just to stop me from endangering myself or others. I haven't worked in three days and the symptoms don't seem to show any signs of letting up. If it wasn't for the ativan, my keyboard would be stained with tears right now. Agony, woe, pain, blah blah blah.
I know that I'm pretty rare, but it seems like the makers of effexor and all these other meds should have spent some time researching the effects of withdrawl from their medications, rather than making us do it for them. They've made quite a bit of money off of us for some time now. Maybe they should use a little of it now to research the effect of the meds they put on the market. I know, soapboxing, but I'm a little manic right now, so forgive.
James here....have you tried a few doses of Prozac ? Seems to work
for many.james
Posted by Enoch on September 9, 2000, at 5:22:21
In reply to Re: withdrawal, posted by stjames on September 8, 2000, at 22:06:06
Posted by Lisa C. on September 9, 2000, at 18:23:37
In reply to Re: Lisa C who's about to start, posted by A on September 3, 2000, at 21:27:00
> It's my third day on effexor and other than headaches, I really can't see any other side effects. Guess I'll give it a try and
see if it helps, nothing else has.
Posted by Lindsey on September 9, 2000, at 19:23:38
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
Both my parents died in 1998 and I went on Prozac, only to gain weight. After a year, I switched to Effexor, which seemed to be effective for a while. Now, after one year on Effexor, I feel the electric sensations in my head and I am sweating like crazy! I didn't know how to describe the head sensations before until I read postings here. I always described it as a feeling of falling a few inches. I want to get off and am worried about the dreaded tapering off, etc. Do the electric sensations go away after you stop?
Posted by SmilyAngl on September 9, 2000, at 22:58:55
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? NOT ME!!!, posted by Zannah on April 26, 2000, at 12:33:26
I was put on Effexor XR after taking Paxil for 6 months... Now I was taken off of Effexor and put on Celexa. The reason for going off of Effexor was because my face broke out with Acne real bad. Also, my appetite increased. Did anybody have this problem?? I loved Effexor b/c of the fact that I had more energy and I felt more clear-headed... I've been on Celexa for 5 days now and my head is in a fog. I feel lousy... I feel like my brain does not catch up to what my eyes see.. does that make sense?? If I turn to look at something, I get this weird sensation in my head then my brain catches up to register what I'm looking at. What do ya'll think I should do??
Posted by wiley on September 10, 2000, at 12:57:04
In reply to Electric sensations on the top of the head, posted by Lindsey on September 9, 2000, at 19:23:38
> The electric sensations do go away. I have been off Effexor for almost 2 weeks now, and I feel much better. The withdrawal effects were bad, but they did go away for me in 1 1/2 weeks. I am now on Zoloft, and doing much better. Like so many have said, it is hit and miss with these drugs, as different people will get different reactions. It does help to hear other's descriptions of these effects, as they are common to alot of people. Feeling much better now! Brenda
Posted by Martha Price on September 10, 2000, at 14:40:24
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by Noa on October 24, 1999, at 18:36:00
> I take effexor xr. Currently on 75 mg a day, which I understand is not a large dosage
but the side affects for me have been numerable. From. One uncommon one I have is the sound of a radio playing in the distance
(with it getting louder when I am near electrical appliance).I get very dizzy, especially at night when I lay down. Can't get up and
walk at night time without holding onto the wall or whatever. Have fallen down and had to
hold the floor to steady myself. My skin burns all night long, like I have been
put in a bath of hot water. I am jumpy all night long and my feet occasionally
kick out and wake me up (when I do sleep). Have a tingling feeling in the left
side of my body during the night and during the day it is the lower part of both legs.Talk about feeling weird or like you are going to die!!
But the good news is that Effexxor works for me like no previous medications
for dehibilitating depression and I have been on quite a few different
things through the years of trial and error.Have been given several things to work at night time to calm me down, but so far
haven't found anything that works. Don't want to go back to the depression,
but also don't want to feel like I may be dieing. I live alone, so
when these happen during the night it is extremely terrifying!Thought I was going crazy until I read your write - ups from all the different people
who had similar problems.martha
Posted by Kara on September 11, 2000, at 8:41:42
In reply to Electric sensations on the top of the head, posted by Lindsey on September 9, 2000, at 19:23:38
> Both my parents died in 1998 and I went on Prozac, only to gain weight. After a year, I switched to Effexor, which seemed to be effective for a while. Now, after one year on Effexor, I feel the electric sensations in my head and I am sweating like crazy! I didn't know how to describe the head sensations before until I read postings here. I always described it as a feeling of falling a few inches. I want to get off and am worried about the dreaded tapering off, etc. Do the electric sensations go away after you stop?
**I have been on Effexor XR for about 4 weeks now, and I have been feeling an electric sensation in the back of my head towards the top since the beginning. It's like a tingling sensation, its strange but it doesnt really bother me.
Posted by tdb on September 11, 2000, at 11:04:29
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
Hi,I've been on Effexor XR for about 2 months; I started at 37mg for 2 weeks & have been at 75mg since. I felt like my side affects were minimal compared to what I was feeling like before. I was really starting to feel good, (more like myself than I had in a year or more) & then all of the sudden the bottom fell out & I feel like I'm almost back at square one. Any ideas?
Posted by Lindsey on September 11, 2000, at 17:26:58
In reply to Re: Electric sensations on the top of the head, posted by wiley on September 10, 2000, at 12:57:04
I'm glad you are feeling better. Did you use Prozac as part of your weaning off? What about the chamomile tea and other things I have been reading about? Did you use any of those to help you? Lindsey
Posted by wiley on September 12, 2000, at 9:12:47
In reply to Re: Electric sensations on top of the head-wiley, posted by Lindsey on September 11, 2000, at 17:26:58
I used Zoloft, and will continue on that. I did not try tea or other methods other than the Zoloft. It took about 1 1/2 weeks, and it seemed so bad at the time, but now the symptoms are all gone. Doesn't seem so bad now, but while in the thick of it it was awful, even went to the ER thinking I was about to pass out. But for me, it did go away! :) Brenda
Posted by RL on September 12, 2000, at 21:46:14
In reply to Was on Effexor now on Celexa, posted by SmilyAngl on September 9, 2000, at 22:58:55
> I was put on Effexor XR after taking Paxil for 6 months... Now I was taken off of Effexor and put on Celexa. The reason for going off of Effexor was because my face broke out with Acne real bad. Also, my appetite increased. Did anybody have this problem?? I loved Effexor b/c of the fact that I had more energy and I felt more clear-headed... I've been on Celexa for 5 days now and my head is in a fog. I feel lousy... I feel like my brain does not catch up to what my eyes see.. does that make sense?? If I turn to look at something, I get this weird sensation in my head then my brain catches up to register what I'm looking at. What do ya'll think I should do??
> > >That isn't the Celexa! That is Effexor withdrawals. I had that exact same experience because my doctor apparently didn't know about the withdrawals. I too thought it was the new medicine (which happened to be Celexa) You need to taper off Effexor slowly. But the last jump, the one from 37.5 mg to nothing is the most difficult. What I did was to crush the 37.5mg tablet and mix it up to make sure that the active ingredients were distributed evenly. Then I took half of that, then a quarter, then I was down to dust and was finally off!!! You taper off concurrently with the new medicine.
Best of luck to you
Posted by Mark H. on September 14, 2000, at 18:35:34
In reply to Effexxor Side Affect - Horrible!!, posted by Martha Price on September 10, 2000, at 14:40:24
Hi Martha,
I don't have time at the moment to read through the other 50 responses, so please forgive me if I'm repeating things that others have already said.
Two things help me:
1.) DO NOT take the extended release version if you have these types of side effects. Rather, take your entire dose after breakfast and it will have gradually worn off (some) by the time you go to bed at night. DO NOT take Effexor after about 3 or 4 pm.
2.) Ask your doctor if it would be appropriate for you to try clonazepam. It is the least addictive of the benzodiazepines, helps with sleep, and HELPS WITH RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME, which is a lot like the Effexor side effects you describe. I take 1/2 of a 0.5mg tablet a night and have no trouble getting up the next morning.
Best of luck,
Mark H.
Posted by Lisa C. on September 14, 2000, at 19:19:28
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
> Hi there,
>
> I've been taking effexor about 1-1/2 weeks now and only had headaches for the first two days,
I've been feeling the best I've felt in a long time. I hope this one works for me. I've found it
works better for me to take it around 8:30-9:00pm just before bed. Never had much luck on any
others.
> please share your thoughts on this.
Posted by robinbird on September 20, 2000, at 23:42:21
In reply to Re: Lisa C who's about to start, posted by A on September 3, 2000, at 21:27:00
Have the "brain trying to catch up with the eyes" thing. Never thought about it 'til I read your submit. Bothersome but not a big concern...there are worse side effects. Though I agree it is frustrating and even scary.
robin
Posted by denisencalin on September 21, 2000, at 9:43:00
In reply to Effexxor Side Affect - Horrible!!, posted by Martha Price on September 10, 2000, at 14:40:24
Hi Martha.
I am currently taking 150 mg of Effexor daily. When I started out I had similar side effects. At times I though I might jump out of my skin. I was always dizzy. I had terrible limb tiking and jumpimg all the time. The side effects are very minimun now. My doctor had mentioned I would get use to it.
I have tried many anti-depressants Zoloft, Celexa ext., nothing has worked for me as well as Effexor has. I have been on it now for about 5 months and I feel like my life has just begun. Try to stick it out. Give it a try.
Denise
Posted by SKM on September 21, 2000, at 17:08:00
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
I've been on Effexor for 2 1/2 years. Had tried a series of medications before settling on this one. After about 1 year, added Buspar to augment. Effexor definitely has helped. I was going through my 2nd serious depression when I began taking it.
Side effects were many: muscle spasms, loss of appetite for a long time, vision blur, etc. Those eventually subsided as I was told they probably would. The long-term side effect has been sexual. After 2 1/2 years I feel like I have almost a zero-level interest in sex. When I do have sex, generally I don't have an orgasm. I get an erection but just don't orgasm. My psychiatrist put me on Viagra to see if that would help and, I would say, it did help for awhile. But it's hard to create an interest that I don't feel. Of course, this can cause problems in relationships.
I was wondering if anyone else has sexual side effects from their Effexor. I take 375mg a day. I used to be on the regular stuff, now I'm on XR. It's certainly easier taking it all in one dose than having to spread it out through the day.
I usually take only 75mg on a day when my wife and I are planning (yes, have to plan that now) to have sex; this tends to create a more positive outcome. However, the withdrawal on that day always makes me feel like crap by the time we get around to lovemaking; very dizzy, unconnected, clumsy, blurred vision...overall rotten feeling.
For those who are beginning a course of medication, my doctor began slowly. Usually we increased my dosage every 2 wks until I was at a level that seemed to be working. If, in time, it was losing its effect, we increased slowly. The same plan should be followed when weaning; slowly.
I've actually had another long-term side effect; that has been in sleep disruption. So, every now and then I take ambien to get my pattern straightened out.
So, if anyone has any comments, I would be happy to hear.
Thanks,
SKM
Posted by Amie on September 22, 2000, at 13:08:13
In reply to Re: withdrawal, posted by maggie on April 13, 2000, at 14:32:34
< snip > BUT I have found - from missing doses - that the withdrawal effects are real. For me, they have included strange effects in my brain. A feeling of electricity or shocks, also vertigo when I move my head from side to side or up and down. Then it feels like my head has moved too fast and my eyes take a few seconds to catch up. This prohibits driving, makes me dizzy and feels very bizarre.
> Snip >
> Maggie
Maggie i have all the same stuff when i miss 2 dosses--i currently take 75 mg of the effexor xr...what bugs me most is i lost 35 pounds before i startedt aking it and i SWEAR the meds have made me gain almost all of it back...I tried paxil for 2 months w/no luck..i'm very sensetive and i can tell if they will work or not..and i tried remeron--made me worse than i was if i was not medicated....so far the effexor xr does good except the weight gain and i still feel sub normal though i'm able to function..i hate my dr. and i'm getting a new one next month bu ti have to have on last visit w/this one...sighthansk for letting me vent
amie
Posted by Amie on September 22, 2000, at 13:08:19
In reply to Re: withdrawal, posted by maggie on April 13, 2000, at 14:32:34
< snip > BUT I have found - from missing doses - that the withdrawal effects are real. For me, they have included strange effects in my brain. A feeling of electricity or shocks, also vertigo when I move my head from side to side or up and down. Then it feels like my head has moved too fast and my eyes take a few seconds to catch up. This prohibits driving, makes me dizzy and feels very bizarre.
> Snip >
> Maggie
Maggie i have all the same stuff when i miss 2 dosses--i currently take 75 mg of the effexor xr...what bugs me most is i lost 35 pounds before i startedt aking it and i SWEAR the meds have made me gain almost all of it back...I tried paxil for 2 months w/no luck..i'm very sensetive and i can tell if they will work or not..and i tried remeron--made me worse than i was if i was not medicated....so far the effexor xr does good except the weight gain and i still feel sub normal though i'm able to function..i hate my dr. and i'm getting a new one next month bu ti have to have on last visit w/this one...sighthansk for letting me vent
amie
Posted by pullmarine on September 24, 2000, at 3:07:48
In reply to Re: withdrawal, posted by Amie on September 22, 2000, at 13:08:19
yup, those are normal withdrawal symptoms for effexor, and the weight gain while you're on it will go away when you stop taking the stuff. By the way, i gotta tell ya, there's no magic pill out there. they all have unpleasant side effect, and ultimately, your progress with the disease will depend a lot on how much effort you put into getting better. Life is painful and unpleasant. Happiness is scarce and fleeting. All I want in life is to be functional, and the pills help me get there.
Posted by smokingun35 on September 24, 2000, at 14:09:31
In reply to Re: effexor xr and side effects, posted by Cindy W on April 23, 2000, at 20:48:09
I started taking effexor xr 2 almost 2 weeks ago,my first anti-depressant(possibly last), and felt tired and terrible and dazed every waking hour of the day while taking it, headaches, cannot reach an orgasm at all. I took 37.5 mg aday for 7 days and 75 mg for 2 days and have now stopped cold turkey. I have yet to experience any side effects, been about 55 hours since last dose, still cannot reach an orgasm, wife is very upset and I'm not far behind her. Will this go away or could this be a pemanent development?
Posted by kdw on September 24, 2000, at 14:53:44
In reply to sexual side effect- effexor-xr, posted by smokingun35 on September 24, 2000, at 14:09:31
> I started taking effexor xr 2 almost 2 weeks ago,my first anti-depressant(possibly last), and felt tired and terrible and dazed every waking hour of the day while taking it, headaches, cannot reach an orgasm at all. I took 37.5 mg aday for 7 days and 75 mg for 2 days and have now stopped cold turkey. I have yet to experience any side effects, been about 55 hours since last dose, still cannot reach an orgasm, wife is very upset and I'm not far behind her. Will this go away or could this be a pemanent development?
I,too, have this problem. For me, it is weighing which is worse--the depression or lack of orgasm. I am now on 225mg. per day and I read a post somewhere that the higher dose could possibly help the situation because of increased dopamine. I certainly don't know about the long term effects. I have only been on this dose for two days.
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