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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by calico cat on April 19, 2004, at 19:55:55
In reply to Re: Efferox side effects(In reply to everyone!), posted by Mikeyqld on March 12, 2003, at 19:38:04
I feel much better after reading that I am not alone in effexor withdrawal hell. I am in the process of weaning off 75mg of Effexor (have been on for a year and a half) to go on Wellbutrin. I have been taking both for about a month. These past 5 days I went from 75mg effexor to 50 mg with terrible headaches and malaise. It is truly awful, but I want to feel good again; the effexor just was not working any more. I am going to the doctor on Weds. so if you have any ideas that worked for you, please let me know.
Thanks to all of you for your support.
Posted by Stryker88 on April 20, 2004, at 6:56:54
In reply to Re: Efferox side effects when weaning, posted by calico cat on April 19, 2004, at 19:55:55
recovery from Effexor sounds like it needs a 12 step program and total recovery. Being hooked and craving a drug that is supposed to be safe is tough
Posted by linda-may on April 20, 2004, at 7:27:16
In reply to Re: Efferox side effects when weaning, posted by Stryker88 on April 20, 2004, at 6:56:54
am wondering why people have such a hard time weaning off? it seems to me that in many cases, people try to stop "cold turkey" - and THEN go back on and start weaning..or just don't seem to have the "weaning" method down pat. i know a number of people who have taken effexor and weaned OFF effexor, with good success and minimal negative effects?? hmmm...
Posted by Zarry on April 20, 2004, at 8:21:41
In reply to Re: Efferox side effects when weaning, posted by linda-may on April 20, 2004, at 7:27:16
Most of the people here in the posts have stated they have been weaning, but don't state what happens after 37.5 mg. Maybe the people you know took other ADs along with weaning off w/o many side effects.
If I recall, I'm the only one that has gone cold turkey - from 75mg to 0.
Another possibility of your thoughts is that people have different intolerance levels - my definition of hell could be normal to someone else.
Posted by calico cat on April 20, 2004, at 11:29:33
In reply to Re: Efferox side effects when weaning, posted by Zarry on April 20, 2004, at 8:21:41
> Most of the people here in the posts have stated they have been weaning, but don't state what happens after 37.5 mg. Maybe the people you know took other ADs along with weaning off w/o many side effects.
>
> If I recall, I'm the only one that has gone cold turkey - from 75mg to 0.
>
> Another possibility of your thoughts is that people have different intolerance levels - my definition of hell could be normal to someone else.Response from Calico Cat: I did try going from 75 mg. effexor to 150mg. wellbutrin. Disaster - I felt like I would pass out and outcontrolled sobbing. That's why I am back to square one - 75 mg. effexor (now down to 50mg.) while on 150 mg. wellbutrin. I just have very bad headaches, and the malaise is better - this is day 4 on 50 mg. I just feel like I trusted my doctor when I went on the effexor - "this is what I give all my old lady patients, and they love it." Had I known that this was a life-time commitment, I might have asked for another drug. I never realized how hard the withdrawal was. I think it's great you went from 75mg. to 0. I just couldn't do it. I feel like it is a weakness I have for effexor or is it total dependence? I guess my mind is still in the process of recovering.
Posted by Zarry on April 20, 2004, at 11:45:33
In reply to Re: Efferox side effects when weaning, posted by calico cat on April 20, 2004, at 11:29:33
Calico Cat, I think ADs are being treated like Valium was in the 70s - give 'em something to shut them up and make 'em happy.
I'm not saying we don't have a chemical imbalance, but some could do with just a mild AD instead of something so strong.
With my elevated BP, I really didn't have a choice but go from 75 to 0 - thankfully after 2 wks, it's getting a bit more near the normal range.
Good luck with your battle.
Posted by ku4ns on April 20, 2004, at 13:23:41
In reply to Re: Efferox side effects when weaning, posted by Zarry on April 20, 2004, at 11:45:33
My reason for stopping the effexor was that I had an increased heartrate (100)even while resting. Now that I am off the effexor and on prozac my rate is back to around 70. I intend to stop the prozac but had started it to help with stopping the effexor. I experienced a migraine while weaning the effexor and some of the other common side effects, so my physician suggested using the prozac to help in the process. I feel normal again except for decreased libido. John
Posted by Zarry on April 20, 2004, at 13:29:19
In reply to Re: Efferox side effects when weaning, posted by ku4ns on April 20, 2004, at 13:23:41
Since I'm entering week 3 of getting off Effexor, I've had more interest in sex and my BP has decreased. The negatives are that my husband seems to be wanting to pick fights, or maybe it's that I'm more aware of his conversations. I was basically emotionless during my time on "happy" pills. If I can make it thru this period, I don't don't believe I will EVER go back on anything.
As one person stated, they want to learn how to deal with what's bothering them instead of covering it up with $$ to the drug companies. Not the exact words, but still the same thing.
I do believe that "happy" pills are needed, but I think the doctors need to be a bit more knowledgeable with the drugs the prescribe.
Posted by calico cat on April 20, 2004, at 16:55:48
In reply to Re: Efferox side effects when weaning, posted by Zarry on April 20, 2004, at 13:29:19
To Zarry and others:
Thanks so much for writing to me. I felt like I was the only one who was suffering and to have company, is very reassuring. This need to wean is still unbelievable to me. Is Wellbutrin a drug that causes a person to have similar side affects? I still can't believe that I need to take another pill to get off effexor.
My doctor's appointment is tomorrow afternoon, and I intend to tell him all I have learned. He must have known about this type of reaction, but didn't tell me about the possibility. I have spent the last three weeks thinking I was losing my mind. I'm still in shock over the whole situation as you can tell. Thanks again.
Posted by Spinxxie on April 20, 2004, at 17:21:50
In reply to Re: STOPPING Effexor made easy, posted by cobwebs on April 19, 2004, at 16:38:50
I just wanted to interject that it is also alright to take AD's, unfortunately some of us have to take them, and to go without could be life threatening.. Good luck to those who can go without.. and hang in there to those who take them, keep your chins up!!! Spinxxie
Posted by Mina on April 20, 2004, at 20:22:20
In reply to Re: STOPPING Effexor made easy, posted by Spinxxie on April 20, 2004, at 17:21:50
Just thought I'd share my experiance lately while trying to wean. Of course, when I tried the way my doc. said to wean off, I went nuts after 2 days of stopping 37.5 since there wasn't anything lower than that to go on. So I've been counting the tiny beads for the last few weeks and it's more tolerable but I'm still so much more angry and easily irritable. (I just put it on a spoonful of applesause). Anywho...it'll be nice once I'm completely freed of this stuff in my system. Until recently I was thinking I just gained 15 pounds because I was eating junk but I'm thinking effexor triggered some sort of nervousness or something to make me hungrier for crap.
Good luck to us all!
Posted by katalina on April 20, 2004, at 22:15:56
In reply to STOPPING Effexor made easy, posted by ku4ns on April 19, 2004, at 12:11:39
Last year, I also used Prozac (only 10 mgs.) to wean myself off of 75 mgs (the lowest I went, after being at 150) and I experienced absolutely no side effects whatsoever (I did have se's when I tried to go every other day on the 75's or even splitting the capsules a couple of times.
Once you take prozac for a couple of weeks, which I did, I discontinued the prozac with no problems at all. Due it's very long half life compared to Effexor, there are usually no withdrawal symptoms from prozac.
Since that time I was SSRI free for six months and then decided to try lexapro, which did not impress me at all and tapered that pretty quickly after a 3 month run. I haven't taken an SSRI for over six months and feel good on my current regimen of Adderall XR and klonopin, along with some good vitamins. I am surprised at my ability to still feel good without an SSRI.
I just wanted to clarify that I think the original poster meant that prozac can be used to wean off the Effexor and then within a month (usually less) one can stop Prozac cold turkey without problems.
Effexor was an amazing drug for me for a while, I just found it to be too much with the Adderall, which is the mainstay of my treatment. I lost a ton of weight and felt jittery on both of them together. Now that I'm just on Adderall I feel less hyper and fidgety than I did when I was on both.
Just my 2 cents! But prozac worked wonders for withdrawals from Effexor!
Katie
Posted by Angela Young on April 20, 2004, at 23:13:16
In reply to Re: THE GOOD THINGS?????-Sira, posted by Angela Young on April 17, 2004, at 22:10:22
I just thought that I would post my opinions about prozac. I have been on it for about 4 months since the birth of my son. I am majoring in psychology and have been looking into every antidepressant I have ever been on. I know that Prozac may be helpful to wean off effexor, but I wouldn't suggest being on it full time. In '95 alone 2500 sucides were related to Prozac. Plus it can also cause almost mania episodes. I know cause it has been doing that to me. I am in the process of trying to get my doctor to switch me back to effexor.
Posted by Spinxxie on April 21, 2004, at 0:55:52
In reply to Prozac is the only way to go, posted by katalina on April 20, 2004, at 22:15:56
From what I have read.. taking a SSRI with effexor can be dangerous.. please take caution.. just my two cents
Posted by Spinxxie on April 21, 2004, at 1:00:43
In reply to Re: Prozac is the only way to go » katalina, posted by Spinxxie on April 21, 2004, at 0:55:52
Ummm.. it sounds like your major issue wasn't depression.. I can only speak for myself, but I take AD's because it is my main health issue.. the mix of ssri's and effexor can cause seretonin syndrome which can be quite life threatening.. just.. a fyi.. thanks S
Posted by newgirl on April 21, 2004, at 9:00:42
In reply to Re: STOPPING Effexor made easy, posted by cobwebs on April 19, 2004, at 16:25:30
I too gained weight while on Effexor. Approx. 25-30 lbs in a year and a half. I've been off Effexor for about a month and a half now. The withdraws do go away! It takes a couple of weeks, but it did happen for me. I have been able to loose a little weight - slowly - probably through diet and exercise. I was hoping that after quitting the Effexor, that the weight would drop off as easily and as quickly as it piled on. That doesn't seem to be the case - at least not for me. I went from almost no exercise to about 2.5 miles a day on the treadmill, pilates, and other misc. activities. I've also really started to watch what I eat - and make a conscious effort ot eat better. I was a size 0-2 & 115 lbs when I went on Effexor. While on it, at my heaviest, I was a size 10-ish, and about 145 lbs. Needless to say, stopping the weight gain was my primary motivation for getting off the Effexor. All in all, its been my experience so far, that you'll really have to work at it to loose the weight after quitting the medication. I'm still looking for encouragement from anyone else who's won the battle of loosing weight after quitting the Effexor. Hope this helps!
Posted by Zarry on April 21, 2004, at 9:00:47
In reply to Prozac, posted by Angela Young on April 20, 2004, at 23:13:16
Angela, there's gotta be something different than Effexor to go on. I agree with you about Prozac that it's really not a good one to be on long term. Funny thing is, that's what my sister is on and she's got multiple personalities, so she says or the docs say. Personally, I don't thing GPs really study up on ADs and they give out like candy the things that drug companies pust to them.
Posted by BR549 on April 21, 2004, at 11:19:25
In reply to Re: How long for these withdrawals to end??, posted by Zarry on April 10, 2004, at 8:20:34
18 days now and counting since my last day of Effexor XR. Rage still rears it's ugly head and remains an evil beast to control as my poor wife can attest. She's "coping" with ADs too but I gotta take care of me first, then her. Maybe.. The sensation to sob now and then doesn't bother me so much. It feels good to well up and breath a little deeper and easier. My blood pressure is too high and needs to be addressed. My geographical tongue, which showed up about the same time I went on Prozac about 7 years ago, has gone wild but the MD's told me it's nothing to worry about. A twitch or tic in my left eye-lid bugs me when I least expect it. The zip-zap noises in my mind at night are almost gone along with the nausea. Headaches come and go but could be seasonal allergy related.
I think I learned a good lesson after my one-day psych class at community college earlier this month, DO NOT allow a family MD to prescribe meds for the brain. See a pyschologist 1st, preferrably with a PhD and plenty of education, who can analyze, diagnose, and refer me if necessary to a pyschiatrist for prescribing brain illness meds. Another item helping me now is light therapy. I acquired a lamp, a happy light I call it, and read the news under it every morning. It's helping me feel better and prodded me back (a little bit anyway) into taking action to work off some of my beer gut.
Thanks for the note of encouragement Zarry. This chat room, or whatever the proper term may be, is a Godsend. It's a whole lot cheaper and faster than group therapy. John
Posted by Zarry on April 21, 2004, at 11:42:06
In reply to Re: My 150 Mg Withdrawal Update, posted by BR549 on April 21, 2004, at 11:19:25
BR - Your blood pressure should be going down by now - are you on any lowering meds? Mine has gone down after 2 1/2 wks off Effexor, but still needs monitoring, it's not where it should be yet.
I do like your idea of not letting anyone but a "mind" doctor precribe "mind" meds.
I have found I have the ability to talk to my husband when he says things to me that bother me. He seems to have started to want to pick fights lately with me and I've weathered them successfully.
Hang in there.
Posted by Emma Smith on April 21, 2004, at 13:30:27
In reply to Re: STOPPING Effexor made easy, posted by newgirl on April 21, 2004, at 9:00:42
I, too gained weight with effexor. I have been off now for almost 3 weeks, I think. Funny how I can block out the "effexor time" :) I think you are on the right track with the weight loss. I really haven't changed anything in my strategy, since I have always watched what I ate and exercised (running, kick boxing/aerobic classes, and walking with my children), but my weight is dropping off at a good rate. (1-2 lbs a week) That is the healthiest way and most permanent way anyway.
You said you gained the weight over a year and a half, you can't expect it to fall off. But it sounds like you are on the right track! :) Keep plugging along! Best of luck to you and all the others left with the "weight issue."
Posted by TJB on April 21, 2004, at 15:58:03
In reply to Re: Prozac, posted by Zarry on April 21, 2004, at 9:00:47
Please don't give Prozac a bad wrap. It has been the only thing that has worked for me. Zoloft was actually one that put me on the verge of suicide. All the while I was being told by my GP that it doesn't have those type of side effects. Thank God it was so obvious to me what was causing those feelings and I stopped it on my own. I think all SSRI's have the potential to make a person worse. The most important thing is to be working with a doctor who listens and keeps a close eye on their patients. Unfortunetly that can be very rare. I know that with Prozac it helps tremendously as long as I keep it at a fairly low dose (which by the way is much less than the standard dose). Any higher and I get much worse. Maybe alot of people are being overmedicated as well as undermonitored.
Just my 2 cents.
Posted by Angela Young on April 21, 2004, at 23:27:17
In reply to Re: Prozac, posted by Zarry on April 21, 2004, at 9:00:47
I am not saying that Prozac is the worst thing in the world. I have nothing against prozac unless it is wrong for you. I think that if it balances chemicals the way it should then it should not affect you badley. I prefer Effexor, but that does not mean that is the only medication that works for people. Please don't think that I am totally downing on Prozac. I just think that people should know what the possibilities are on certain medications. Sorry if I offended anyone.
Posted by calico cat on April 22, 2004, at 6:31:33
In reply to Newgirl, posted by Emma Smith on April 21, 2004, at 13:30:27
I went to the doctor yesterday, and I am on my last phase of effexor withdrawal - hopefully. I am now on 37.5mg which I take at supper with 100 mg. of wellbutrin - also new. The doctor says it isn't the effexor my body wanted, just the chemicals in the effexor. But, if this were true, wouldn't everyone have similar withdrawal.
I told the doctor that I have never been so depressed in my life. I could feel this way for free and without medication.
Anyway, I am feeling somewhat hopeful. Also, I think that when you go on effexor, the doctor should tell you how very difficult it may be to get off. I never intended to stay on these medications for the rest of my life so I am thinking of asking for a referral to a psychiatrist, especially after my terrible experience the first time weaning off the effexor.
Thanks again to all of you who offered support and advice. I find that saying good-bye to effexor is very painful and solitary so I am glad to have all of you who understand.
Posted by Beta on April 22, 2004, at 6:47:14
In reply to Re: Newgirl - getting off effexor, posted by calico cat on April 22, 2004, at 6:31:33
Has anyone lost weight on Effexor XR? In the month and a half that I have been on it , at 150mg. now, I have gained about 5lbs.
I believe I read that a small percentage of people that are underweight when they begin taking it lose weight when on Effexor. Does anyone have any insight regarding this?
Thanks
~Beth
Posted by TJB on April 22, 2004, at 8:19:36
In reply to Re: Prozac, posted by Angela Young on April 21, 2004, at 23:27:17
No offense taken here. Its just that with all the scary warnings that have come out recently it concerns me that there may be people who end up not getting help for fear that they could become worse. It is definetly a matter of personal experience. Prozac is for me but it put another family member of mine over the edge. Sometimes I think the meds get the bad rap when it really should be the people who are doing the prescribing. I guess I'm kind of ranting because its been hard enough to deal with the stigma of having to take these medications. Just when it seemed that it was becoming more acceptable the new warnings came out and people starting saying, "You better stop taking that stuff" etc. etc. That is definetly not an option for me.
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