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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by jennm on May 18, 2004, at 15:16:08
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal & side effects, posted by Dave K. on November 28, 1998, at 12:58:34
I have lived with major depression for all of my life, however, about 5 years ago, after coming very close to suicide, my therapist tried me on Wellbutrin SR which works wonderfully for me.
I recently had a baby (she is 7 1/2 months old now) and was suffering with severe depression again despite taking the maximum dose of Wellbutrin SR daily (200mg bid). So, my doctor tried adding 75mg of Effexor daily. It seemed to help a little (I think?), but I also experienced the "anorgasmia" side effect which was a bother(to say the least) and didn't feel like it was worth the money or the side effects to continue taking the Effector. So I decided to wean myself off of it(I didn't consult my dr though which I am sure isn't adviseable), and I am now experiencing some troubling symptoms. I had only been taking it for about a month, maybe two, so I really didn't think it would be that hard to quit taking it.
There is some significant mental illness in my family so I always panic when I feel like I am going nuts which doesn't help, and I have also been under a lot of stress lately which I am sure isn't helping anything either. Anyway, I have been feeling that pseudo-dizzy feeling, anxiousness, irritability--basically feeling like I am experiencing really bad PMS + dizziness. Does anyone have any advice? How long is this going to last? It has only been about a week and a half since I stopped taking it all together and like I said I was only taking 75mg a day. I really wasn't expecting to be this impacted by it! What is going on here???
Thanks for any help any of you have to offer--
Posted by ku4ns on May 18, 2004, at 15:27:04
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal side effects, posted by jennm on May 18, 2004, at 15:16:08
It seems that you should be nearing the last effects of the effexor, but there is a lower dose you could use 37.5mg. Personally I used Prozac 20mg to rid myself of the effexor which has worked very well. I hope this helps. John
Posted by annesand on May 19, 2004, at 7:31:13
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal side effects, posted by ku4ns on May 18, 2004, at 15:27:04
I agree. I took one 20mg Prozac (which takes 3 weeks to ease out of your system) and the dizziness disappeared.
Posted by winifred on May 19, 2004, at 11:05:44
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal side effects, posted by ku4ns on May 18, 2004, at 15:27:04
> It seems that you should be nearing the last effects of the effexor, but there is a lower dose you could use 37.5mg. Personally I used Prozac 20mg to rid myself of the effexor which has worked very well. I hope this helps. John
My doc refused to prescribe a small dose of prozac to help with the withdrawl. I am weaning from 450 a day of effexor. This isn't the first time I have attempted to get off of this terrible drug. Today is my first day going cold turkey. I feel awful! The doctor said he thought the "brain shiver" vertigo feeling is all in my head and offered xanax for anxiety. I am going to try this drug free I guess. I hope the withdrawl ends soon. I want my pre effexor life back!
Posted by ku4ns on May 19, 2004, at 12:22:52
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal side effects, posted by winifred on May 19, 2004, at 11:05:44
I can't say enough about the use of the prozac, since this was my second time attempting to stop effexor. I remember the first time trying to stop and when I had the "brain shiver" my blood pressure was elevated enough to be treated for high bp. Using the prozac I did not experience one withdrawal symptom as I had previously. John
> > It seems that you should be nearing the last effects of the effexor, but there is a lower dose you could use 37.5mg. Personally I used Prozac 20mg to rid myself of the effexor which has worked very well. I hope this helps. John
>
> My doc refused to prescribe a small dose of prozac to help with the withdrawl. I am weaning from 450 a day of effexor. This isn't the first time I have attempted to get off of this terrible drug. Today is my first day going cold turkey. I feel awful! The doctor said he thought the "brain shiver" vertigo feeling is all in my head and offered xanax for anxiety. I am going to try this drug free I guess. I hope the withdrawl ends soon. I want my pre effexor life back!
Posted by jennm on May 19, 2004, at 14:58:00
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal side effects, posted by jennm on May 18, 2004, at 15:16:08
Thanks for the responses. It is so good to know that I am not the only one out there with this problem! I am still experiencing the withdrawl symptoms, but I think I will give it another week or so before consulting my doctor for further help. Hopefully you all are right and it is almost over. I really think they should tell you about the terrible withdrawl symptoms BEFORE you start taking it!
Thanks for the help-
Posted by hugo on May 19, 2004, at 22:49:56
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal side effects, posted by winifred on May 19, 2004, at 11:05:44
Two 20 mg caps of prozac, one at night and one in the AM, took the edge off effexor withdrawal for me. Perhaps you need a more sympathetic pdoc?
Posted by Morgaine on May 20, 2004, at 2:20:18
In reply to Re: Alternative Therapies, posted by Morgaine on May 12, 2004, at 3:00:32
RE: "ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES" 'POSTED BY MORGAINE':
COULD SOMEONE, ANYONE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?
I NEVER POSTED THE ABOVE REFERENCED MESSAGE. THIS
HAPPENED BEFORE WITH ONE TITLED "IF WISHES WERE HORSES"
NOW IT HAS BEEN CORRECTED(?) AND BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO
A 'HARRY P'. WHY IS 'MORGAINE'S' NAME BEING PUT
NEXT TO POSTINGS MORGAINE DID NOT POST? AM I NOT
UNDERSTANDING SOMETHING BASIC HERE ABOUT HOW THIS
COMMUNICATING, SHARING METHOD WORKS? I AM NOT AFRAID
OF BEING CALLED STUPID, BUT THIS IS RIDICULOUS! AGAIN....
WHASSUP?????
Posted by Morgaine on May 20, 2004, at 2:37:17
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal side effects, posted by winifred on May 19, 2004, at 11:05:44
> > It seems that you should be nearing the last effects of the effexor, but there is a lower dose you could use 37.5mg. Personally I used Prozac 20mg to rid myself of the effexor which has worked very well. I hope this helps. John
>
> My doc refused to prescribe a small dose of prozac to help with the withdrawl. I am weaning from 450 a day of effexor. This isn't the first time I have attempted to get off of this terrible drug. Today is my first day going cold turkey. I feel awful! The doctor said he thought the "brain shiver" vertigo feeling is all in my head and offered xanax for anxiety. I am going to try this drug free I guess. I hope the withdrawl ends soon. I want my pre effexor life back!WHAT'S YOUR DOCTOR TRYING TO DO TO YOU? 450MGS. THIS
'AIN'T RIGHT, TRUST ME. i'M GETTING SCARED NOW. BYE - THIS MESSAGE
WAS POSTED BY MORGAINE.
Posted by Morgaine on May 20, 2004, at 2:42:46
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal side effects winifred, posted by hugo on May 19, 2004, at 22:49:56
> Two 20 mg caps of prozac, one at night and one in the AM, took the edge off effexor withdrawal for me. Perhaps you need a more sympathetic pdoc?
mAN! I PRAY I DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS STUFF!
GETTING ON PROZAC TO GET OFF OF EFFEXOR, DOES ANYONE
ELSE SEE THE IRONY IN THIS?
Posted by roomy on May 20, 2004, at 7:07:26
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal side effects winifred, posted by Morgaine on May 20, 2004, at 2:42:46
> mAN! I PRAY I DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS STUFF!
> GETTING ON PROZAC TO GET OFF OF EFFEXOR, DOES ANYONE
> ELSE SEE THE IRONY IN THIS?oh It's ironic alright. I tried several times to get off effexor. I am FINALLY effexor free. Have been since January 1st this year. Actually I am drug free of anykind. I could have taken prozac or wellbutrin to help with the side effects of effexor withdrawl. My doctor too recommended it. I thought the same way you did. Drugs to get OFF drugs?? No thank- you. Thinking back....yeah I should have had some prozac. If I had to do over, I would have taken the prozac. However, if you insist on getting off the effexor Rx free, there are some things to help but remember you are just MASKING the withdrawl symptoms. The meds that make you sleepy so you pass out work great, if ya wanna be sleepy! Benedryl and anti-vert. (any over the counter motion sickness drug will do) But I had two jobs and a three-yr-old. I couldnt take the 'sleepy drugs' and still function. I DID find that a PMS drug helped some and the "fake energy" tabs helped alot. Around these parts we have, Stingers, No-doz, mini-thins, stay-awake tabs. etc. I am not sure if it was just me since I have never had anyone else on here post about those drugs helping out but for me they worked great. I would take half a tab of the anti-dizziness drug and a no-doz and feel great for a bout 4 hours anyway.
anyway....hang in there. it gets better.
-Roomy
Posted by winifred on May 20, 2004, at 9:20:35
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal side effects, posted by Morgaine on May 20, 2004, at 2:37:17
> > > It seems that you should be nearing the last effects of the effexor, but there is a lower dose you could use 37.5mg. Personally I used Prozac 20mg to rid myself of the effexor which has worked very well. I hope this helps. John
> >
> > My doc refused to prescribe a small dose of prozac to help with the withdrawl. I am weaning from 450 a day of effexor. This isn't the first time I have attempted to get off of this terrible drug. Today is my first day going cold turkey. I feel awful! The doctor said he thought the "brain shiver" vertigo feeling is all in my head and offered xanax for anxiety. I am going to try this drug free I guess. I hope the withdrawl ends soon. I want my pre effexor life back!
>
> WHAT'S YOUR DOCTOR TRYING TO DO TO YOU? 450MGS. THIS
> 'AIN'T RIGHT, TRUST ME. i'M GETTING SCARED NOW. BYE - THIS MESSAGE
> WAS POSTED BY MORGAINE.Believe me I agree, I can't understand why I was at 450 mg. I never questioned him and now I am paying the price. I can't take time off of work right now so I come to the office feeling dizzy, weepy and sick to my stomach just to name a few. I just want my life back. The crazy thing is they prescribed effexor for depression (I was suicidal) but getting off of it has made me more suicidal. I am tired, I am sick and there are days the light at the end of the tunnel is invisible.
winifred
Posted by annesand on May 20, 2004, at 9:24:13
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal side effects, posted by winifred on May 20, 2004, at 9:20:35
Hang in there. And find a dr. who will give you some Prozac. Yes, it's counterintuitive to take one pill to help you go off another, but there are good reasons why it works, and you won't have to take it for long.
Posted by worm on May 20, 2004, at 12:23:16
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal side effects, posted by winifred on May 20, 2004, at 9:20:35
> The crazy thing is they prescribed effexor for depression (I was suicidal) but getting off of it has made me more suicidal. I am tired, I am sick and there are days the light at the end of the tunnel is invisible.
> winifredWinifred, it is very ironic. I was never suicidal when I was depressed, but on 150 mg of Effexor, I was suicidal. (on 75, I was fine, but my doctor wanted to raise the dose) and while getting off, I was suicidal also. I'm sure Effexor is helpful to many people, and it WAS helpful to me, only at a lower dosage. I am just trying to go it alone, drug free, to see if I can "kick" this depression by myself. It is not severe. I know people who have switched from one to another antidepressant, and they all work a little differently. Some do fine on Zoloft, others on Paxil, others have stopped getting effectiveness from one after a while and have switched to another. Everyone's chemical makeup is a little bit different.
JMHO
Posted by TanyaJean on May 20, 2004, at 12:30:53
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal side effects, posted by winifred on May 19, 2004, at 11:05:44
>
> My doc refused to prescribe a small dose of prozac to help with the withdrawl. I am weaning from 450 a day of effexor. This isn't the first time I have attempted to get off of this terrible drug. Today is my first day going cold turkey. I feel awful! The doctor said he thought the "brain shiver" vertigo feeling is all in my head and offered xanax for anxiety. I am going to try this drug free I guess. I hope the withdrawl ends soon. I want my pre effexor life back!**I think you need a doctor who listens to you. A lot of people on here try "5-htp" and said it really helped them. Going off 450mg cold turkey would be very harsh on the body, I think. I'm glad I never went up that high. Anyway, you can find 5-htp on the internet or at a supplement store. I take the "Yarrow" brand just because it was recommended to me.
Posted by Dr. Bob on May 21, 2004, at 6:49:23
In reply to Re: Alternative Therapies, posted by Morgaine on May 20, 2004, at 2:20:18
> I NEVER POSTED THE ABOVE REFERENCED MESSAGE...
I'd like to redirect follow-ups about this issue to Psycho-Babble Administration. Here's a link:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20040307/msgs/346668.html
Thanks,
Bob
Posted by husschick on May 21, 2004, at 9:20:51
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal side effects, posted by worm on May 20, 2004, at 12:23:16
I am extremly concerened about all of these side effects you all are talking about. I have taken 7 different meds before effexor xr and I have felt over all pretty good on this med. Do you think that mabye some of the withdrawl side effects are in your head?
Posted by worm on May 21, 2004, at 9:36:13
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal side effects, posted by husschick on May 21, 2004, at 9:20:51
> I am extremly concerened about all of these side effects you all are talking about. I have taken 7 different meds before effexor xr and I have felt over all pretty good on this med. Do you think that mabye some of the withdrawl side effects are in your head?
I believe I posted before about this, that a lot of the side effects are "suggestable", and some are so vague that they could be attributed to many things. For example, I had body aches, and when I saw that on the list, I attributed them to the Effexor. Unfortunately, several months after quitting the Effexor, I still have some body aches, so that is an issue for my doctor. But the "brain zings" are definitely real. The appetite could be real, could be a manifestation of the depression, and the brain fogginess is subjective, although I DO feel that my brain is getting sharper, even though I never noticed that I was so foggy - I just noticed I was having trouble finding the right words, and names of people I have known for years were eluding me. I just kind of thought I was getting older.
Does that answer your question? Clear as mud, huh?
Posted by husschick on May 21, 2004, at 11:12:00
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal side effects, posted by worm on May 21, 2004, at 9:36:13
worm, thanks for the response. I agree. I know that when I see side effects listed on the paper you get when you pick it up at the pharmacy, I am like waiting for that to happen. mabye part of my anxiety , whoi knows. anyway thanks for the input.
Posted by Morgaine on May 21, 2004, at 23:43:36
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal side effects, posted by worm on May 20, 2004, at 12:23:16
In reply to the message I just read. I am only on
75 mgs. of Effexor now and intend to keep it this way
until?......Yeah, I'm not going any higher, just
gonna keep it to this smallest screwdriver turn for my
personal chemistry. Morgaine
Posted by Morgaine on May 22, 2004, at 0:06:37
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal side effects, posted by husschick on May 21, 2004, at 9:20:51
> I am extremly concerened about all of these side effects you all are talking about. I have taken 7 different meds before effexor xr and I have felt over all pretty good on this med. Do you think that mabye some of the withdrawl side effects are in your head?
This is Morgaine speaking. You know, it's interesting
what you're asking. I was up to 325mgs. at my highest,
and then just started weaning down weekly until my
last week was 75mgs. I didn't even have to go to the 37.5
opening the capsule bit. It was downright smooth and
not at all what I was expecting or been warned about.
I was off of Effexor for about 9 months. I started
back again on 3/29/04 at 75mgs. and staying there.
Thus far it has been the only drug that has helped me
in any way with my "Clinical Depression". Prozac made
me jittery and paranoid. Wellbutrin made me break out
in a horrific all over body rash, as well as made
me antsy and jittery, so.....My point is I do not
have a lot of experience with a myriad of anti-depressants,
but I do know my body and my brain well enough to
know what feels 'right', what feels 'safe', what feels
'healthy'. The fact that there are so many people out
there who have had such unpleasant experiences with
Effexor does nothing but prove that it truly does "take
all kinds to make a circus". Some drugs are just
not going to work in the ideal way for some people.
For other people these same drugs work wonders for them.
Unless one is the 'Supreme Being' or 'Force' of all
knowledge and creation who's to say which drug is good
or bad? Number one that's a dogmatic predicament.
If there was such a thing as a 'Happy' pill, or a 'Love'
pill that actually worked for 'everyone' in the 'exact'
'same' way, do you think our world situation would be
as f..... up as it is? Morgaine
Posted by Morgaine on May 22, 2004, at 0:11:30
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal side effects, posted by husschick on May 21, 2004, at 11:12:00
> worm, thanks for the response. I agree. I know that when I see side effects listed on the paper you get when you pick it up at the pharmacy, I am like waiting for that to happen. mabye part of my anxiety , whoi knows. anyway thanks for the input.
This is Morgaine again: Ditto on that - I'm just
going to start announcing myself from the start of
each message I send, since I have been having
trouble with my name being used on other 'messages'
Oh well, Dr. Bob is working on it. Love and PeaCE!
Posted by babyapehanger on May 24, 2004, at 1:11:06
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal side effects, posted by annesand on May 20, 2004, at 9:24:13
I thank all of you for your postings. I am a recovering alcoholic who went through inpatient therapy jan 1 2004 and the doc put me on effexor 150 mg daily. It did help with the mood swings and other stuff I went through. I am on my second cold turkey day of withdrawal and it sucks. I havent been able to move hardly today and sleep for maybe 15 min a hour. my bp is 145-85 which is normal for me. I do feel woosy and have no ambition now. I know it will pass just like the alcohol withdrawl symptoms did. I am tired of being on drugs. I switched from alcohol to effexor and they both made me feel the same. It is time to do it (life)naturally! Thanks for letting me ramble and if anyone can let me know what I might be in for (symptoms wise) for the next few days it could help.
Posted by seeknsolace on May 24, 2004, at 5:40:13
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal side effects, posted by babyapehanger on May 24, 2004, at 1:11:06
I've been off effexor 7 wks. The first 4 were horrible. Then symptoms of withdrawal began to subside. The typical symptoms I endured were short term memory loss, felt like I was in a bubble.. a sense of everything was surreal, headaches, sense of my entire being zapped.. still having those but not as intense and occur when I get highly stressed, eat too many carbs and/or get really tired. The first few weeks my body ached like hell. Havent figured out how much of it was due to the anxiety of coming off or the withdrawal itself. It all felt like it would never end, but it did except for the above mentioned "zaps".
If it gets too hard for you.. have your doc put you on prozac.. I took 10 mgs for ten days, it made it more manageable, tho it was still hell after the prozac's (positive) effects were over.
Try to sleep as much as you can, drink tons of water and try to eliminate all possible stress.
> I thank all of you for your postings. I am a recovering alcoholic who went through inpatient therapy jan 1 2004 and the doc put me on effexor 150 mg daily. It did help with the mood swings and other stuff I went through. I am on my second cold turkey day of withdrawal and it sucks. I havent been able to move hardly today and sleep for maybe 15 min a hour. my bp is 145-85 which is normal for me. I do feel woosy and have no ambition now. I know it will pass just like the alcohol withdrawl symptoms did. I am tired of being on drugs. I switched from alcohol to effexor and they both made me feel the same. It is time to do it (life)naturally! Thanks for letting me ramble and if anyone can let me know what I might be in for (symptoms wise) for the next few days it could help.
Posted by jenniferjaguar on May 27, 2004, at 20:37:28
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal side effects, posted by babyapehanger on May 24, 2004, at 1:11:06
I wish one of you people would say why you're coming off Effexor or any other medically prescribed drug in the first place. Especially that babyape fellow, who has been sober 3 months, and takes himself off it cold turkey. What an idiot! He wants to be "drug free." He has no idea the damage his drinking has done to him chemically, but he's got to play doctor and god at the same time. Well surprise, buddy, you're going to crash big time. I give you a month, you'll be drunk on your ass. If people in AA are giving you that crap about "you aren't sober if you taking something" tell them to shove it. They're not doctors. If your md prescribed something, and you're not sure about it, you should see a shrink about it anyway, not some general practice person. Am I venting? Sure! I've been weaning off Effexor for 3 weeks, and have discovered at 25mg a day that my old feelings, rage, fatigue are worse. Which is a bitch, since I was fine at 75mg, but have been coming off it because I can't afford it, lost my job. Well I guess it's peanut-butter time, I'd rather been sane and eat lousy, I seemed to be OK at 37.5 for 2 weeks, so I'm going back up.
Please please please if you are feeling good, dont come off the meds. You probably feel good BECAUSE YOU'RE ON MEDS!!!! I've been sober 20 years, and you don't want to know how many multi-diagnosis people have gotten drunk, or died because of this stupid idea. Please talk to a professional or an openminded AA sponsor before screwing with your head!
> I thank all of you for your postings. I am a recovering alcoholic who went through inpatient therapy jan 1 2004 and the doc put me on effexor 150 mg daily. It did help with the mood swings and other stuff I went through. I am on my second cold turkey day of withdrawal and it sucks. I havent been able to move hardly today and sleep for maybe 15 min a hour. my bp is 145-85 which is normal for me. I do feel woosy and have no ambition now. I know it will pass just like the alcohol withdrawl symptoms did. I am tired of being on drugs. I switched from alcohol to effexor and they both made me feel the same. It is time to do it (life)naturally! Thanks for letting me ramble and if anyone can let me know what I might be in for (symptoms wise) for the next few days it could help.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]
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