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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by JouezMoi on March 24, 2007, at 16:01:20
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal Solution » Jouezmoi, posted by dsm3r on February 24, 2007, at 12:56:38
I am currently off all meds and doing OK so far. I actually had a good test yesterday ... enduring a 5.0 earthquake which lasted about 15 seconds, without getting an anxiety/ panic attack. I was diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder (I had constant palpitations, outrageous outbursts, impatience, mood swings, and constant fear of dying ....)
The Effexor worked very well for me, very little side effects except for yawning at 3:00 in the afternoon, increased insomnia (which I always had anyways ... I live on Unisom), and the most interesting dreams which made going to the movies unnecessary. Effexor effectively brought me to a state of normalcy and the doc decided it was time to come off ... and that was when the nightmare began with the "discontinuation syndrome".
I used the Tranxene for 2 weeks only and I am now completely medication free right now .. for the past 2 weeks or so. (About 4 or 5 weeks completely off of Effexor). I am doing well in terms of managing my anxiety and my mood swings, and I feel good (except for a one day bout of PMS).
I have been dealing with these issues since my early 20s and I know I am good for now, and may remain so for a couple years even. And, the time will come when my monsters will raise their heads again and I will have to go back on meds .. be it depression, or anxiety or hypomania.
When that time comes, I will choose my course of treatment more carefully.
Posted by dsm3r on March 24, 2007, at 16:04:29
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal Solution, posted by JouezMoi on February 24, 2007, at 13:36:53
> I am currently off all meds and doing OK so far. I actually had a good test yesterday ... enduring a 5.0 earthquake which lasted about 15 seconds, without getting an anxiety/ panic attack. I was diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder (I had constant palpitations, outrageous outbursts, impatience, mood swings, and constant fear of dying ....)
>
> The Effexor worked very well for me, very little side effects except for yawning at 3:00 in the afternoon, increased insomnia (which I always had anyways ... I live on Unisom), and the most interesting dreams which made going to the movies unnecessary. Effexor effectively brought me to a state of normalcy and the doc decided it was time to come off ... and that was when the nightmare began with the "discontinuation syndrome".
>
> I used the Tranxene for 2 weeks only and I am now completely medication free right now .. for the past 2 weeks or so. (About 4 or 5 weeks completely off of Effexor). I am doing well in terms of managing my anxiety and my mood swings, and I feel good (except for a one day bout of PMS).
>
> I have been dealing with these issues since my early 20s and I know I am good for now, and may remain so for a couple years even. And, the time will come when my monsters will raise their heads again and I will have to go back on meds .. be it depression, or anxiety or hypomania.
>
> When that time comes, I will choose my course of treatment more carefully.Hi Jouezmoi -
Thanks for answering my questions. Sorry I haven't posted before this. With seasonal affective d/o on top of bi-polar let's just say I'm a tad bit off, lol.That is wonderful news about being off effexor and meds. Using Tranxene for withdrawl seemed to work for you. My physician informed me that she would prescribe this med if I wanted to quit smoking. Maybe I can kill 2 birds with 1 stone.
Again, thanks for posting the info. The more info we have from others, the better we are able to manage our illness.
Best wishes to you!!!!
Blessed journeys,
Me.
Posted by FredPotter on March 24, 2007, at 16:04:32
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal Solution » JouezMoi, posted by dsm3r on March 15, 2007, at 0:07:24
I've been on 75 mg capsules of Effexor XR for about 5 years. Daytime sleepiness and weakness has been a problem though. I was up to 5 of these capsules at one time, but came down gradually to 2. I am going to start Nardil soon so my Dr told me to stop Effexor. Which I have done. Suddenly
Well today I've felt little more than dead. Sleeping all day on and off although the depression followed me into my (awful) dreams and I'd keep trying to wake but it was so hard due to sleep paralysis. Also "gaps" in consciousness. Are these the brain zaps people talk about? Puffy eyes, unable to open my eyelids properly
Is this to be expected? And how long will it go on? Does anyone know the washout period from Effexor XR to Nardil?
Thanks everyone
Fred
Posted by FredPotter on March 24, 2007, at 16:04:35
In reply to Sudden Effexor Withdrawal, posted by FredPotter on March 15, 2007, at 22:34:39
today I've felt slightly better but keep crying over God knows what. There's a whooshing sound when I move my eyes
Posted by FredPotter on March 24, 2007, at 16:04:38
In reply to Re: Sudden Effexor Withdrawal, posted by FredPotter on March 17, 2007, at 2:53:10
Hiya all I've found this blog (it takes you straight to my entry)
http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/post/focussober/vpost?id=1744192&pid=16652993#post16652993
I've never taken much interest in withdrawal complaints before as I believed it was drug company bashing. Hower this Blog and posts, our forum, have been saying for a long time that Effexor has more weird side effects and withdrawal effects than any other psychotropic drug (possible excepting Zyprexa and Xanax). At least with Xanax you have a feel for what's going on - it's called craving.
No-one on the blog seems to be withdrawing from Effexor in order to start another drug. But I start Nardil in 3 days. My doc and pharmacist roughly agreed 1 week to 10 days was enough to get rid of all Effexor traces. But my doc also told me to "stop taking the Effexor". So what does he know? Some people have said it might take a year to taper off
The last quarter of my life has mostly been spent in an inner world. Is that the illness, the drug or the effect of changing doses? Is Effexor a serious concern?
Much love
Fred
Posted by JouezMoi on March 24, 2007, at 16:04:41
In reply to Re: Sudden Effexor Withdrawal, posted by FredPotter on March 17, 2007, at 19:11:13
Hi Fred,
Is honestly think that Effexor is a very effective drug. I also believe that the only reason that the withdrawal nightmore is now coming to the fore, is that people are only now starting to come off of it. There are several reasons for this. This drug was originally used for serious clinical health concerns -- like OCD, and bi-oplar I/II, or severe depression where the patient's well-being was clearly at risk, so the benefits far outweighed the risks, and the patient was expected to be on the mediciation for the long haul .. "for life".
Now that its use has become more mainstream, doctors are prescribing it for less severe ailments with the intention of shorter periods of use. So suddenly, the problems associated with coming off have been exacerbated by the increase of short-term users, and the possibility of long-term users only now coming off.
This is no drug-company bashing. This is real. I know my experiences, and in many cases, the doctors have all been taken by surprise, to the extent that they themselves did not want to admit that there was a problem.
Incidentally, I have been on and off Xanax for decades, without any addiction problem. I plan in future, when I need help with my anxiety I will go back to short-term Xanax or Ativan which worked for me. For depression, a short course of one of the tri-cyclics will do.
I want to stay far from these new "designer" drugs. They are potent, and very effective, but I am concerned that in my case, they may have done more harm than good. My eye-sight has not been the same since Effexor, and I had 20/10 vision.
There has also been concerns from one doctor that I know, that long-term use may lead to stroke in some patients. He is seeing it more and more with patients in their early forties who have been on SSRI's for more than 15 years (i.e. from inception).
The overall verdict is not out, and won't be until there is more emperical data to assess.
> Hiya all I've found this blog (it takes you straight to my entry)
>
> http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/post/focussober/vpost?id=1744192&pid=16652993#post16652993
>
> I've never taken much interest in withdrawal complaints before as I believed it was drug company bashing. Hower this Blog and posts, our forum, have been saying for a long time that Effexor has more weird side effects and withdrawal effects than any other psychotropic drug (possible excepting Zyprexa and Xanax). At least with Xanax you have a feel for what's going on - it's called craving.
>
> No-one on the blog seems to be withdrawing from Effexor in order to start another drug. But I start Nardil in 3 days. My doc and pharmacist roughly agreed 1 week to 10 days was enough to get rid of all Effexor traces. But my doc also told me to "stop taking the Effexor". So what does he know? Some people have said it might take a year to taper off
>
> The last quarter of my life has mostly been spent in an inner world. Is that the illness, the drug or the effect of changing doses? Is Effexor a serious concern?
>
> Much love
>
> Fred
Posted by FredPotter on March 24, 2007, at 16:04:44
In reply to Re: Sudden Effexor Withdrawal, posted by JouezMoi on March 18, 2007, at 11:34:21
Chere Jouezmoi Your post is very thoughtful and well-balanced. I don't like conspiracy theories against drug companies as they wouldn't stay in business if all the accusations were true. I know several biostatisticians who work for them and they are scientists who are genuinely trying to create better drugs, the more to alleviate suffering.
However, yes, Effexor came as a shock to the professionals. I've never really had withdrawal effects from ADs before apart from Serzone.
Fred
Posted by teady-joshua on March 24, 2007, at 16:05:16
In reply to withdrawal, posted by jeanette on April 12, 2000, at 16:31:48
Greetings,
I’m hoping to get some help here. I myself am not on Effexor (thank God), however my friend is. She was placed on this med. in the summer of 2006 (it is now March of 07), by a Physician’s Assistant. The penitent suffers from anxiety attracts and for some reason the PA put her on Effxor XR.75mg. once a day. I am not a physician however looking in the PDR I can’t understand this drug being prescribed.
Here’s my dilemma the patient has decided to go off of Effxor XR cold turkey. Her script ran out (has refills) and was unable to take the drug for two (2) days. In those days she decide to drop the drug. It has been now four (4) days since she went off and we are going through severe withdrawals. The symptoms are chills, nausea, sever back pain, dizziness, incoherence, and shortness of breath. Also last I examined her she is not suicidal but is very miserable and beginning to sound depressed.
I’ve done the reading on Effxor XR as well as many accounts of patients with withdrawals and I’m not happy with what I see. I’m looking for some advice here. Seeing as her script is small (75mg.). Is there a way to wean her off slowly? I have attempted to get her to see a doctor however she is persistent against that. (Rightly so after this hellatious experience with this drug)
What can I do for her?
Thank you,
Joshua
Posted by Clayton on March 24, 2007, at 16:05:20
In reply to Re: withdrawal, posted by teady-joshua on March 24, 2007, at 2:56:24
Hi,
I just want to let everyone know that I took Effexor for 9 months (150mg x 2/day) and discontinued it abruptly. I had no withdrawl symptoms whatsoever. None!
At first when I was offered Effexor by my Pdoc, I refused to take it because of the ominous accounts I had read on PsycoBabble about the withdrawl syndrome...brainshocks and all that. None of it has occerred for me at all.
It was an excellant antidepresnat while I took it and truly helped me. I would hate for anyone else to refuse the help they could obtain from this medication because a few people experience the withdrawl symptoms so graphically described on this site.
Take care, everyone!
Posted by dancingstar on March 24, 2007, at 17:05:22
In reply to Re: Sudden Effexor Withdrawal, posted by FredPotter on March 17, 2007, at 2:53:10
Fred,
I'm so sorry you and all are in pain. I stopped taking Effexor in Sept. of '04. The doctors have now known about this for a long time. Wyeth has known about it for what seems like a very long time now, truly, if my research has not been deleted; and yet they prescribe the drug to very many people who never had depression, like me, for pain and symptoms of all sorts of other things, knowing it is potentially very problematic.
After two years, I'm mostly well now, but it's not the same. I was never depressed -- unless something sad happened -- until I took Effexor. Now I have annoying symptoms, like having trouble leaving home. Effexor, as you should know, is a multi-billion dollar business for Wyeth. What they have done is sinful.
I was told that the family pracice quack that put me on E for back pain and fatigue seems to be in jail. I have no idea why. A formerly health-conscious man, I hear he has gotten fat and has lost his teeth. All of this means nothing to me. The part that made me smile is that I hear he is now being given Effexor. That, I must say, is sweet justice.
Posted by dancingstar on March 24, 2007, at 18:27:58
In reply to Re: withdrawal, posted by teady-joshua on March 24, 2007, at 2:56:24
Hey Joshua,
Looking back, though you could not have convinced me of this at the time, I think it would have been best to go back on Effexor and wean off of it slowly.
There are two ways to do this. One is to take Effexor tablets instead of capsules because the tablets come in smaller dose amounts, and you can easily break them into ever smaller and smaller amounts until your friend is safely off the drug.
The other way is to empty the capsules and take fewer and fewer grains of Effexor. Read through the years of posts on this board where it has been done. I'm sorry that I'm not more help with this, but I didn't do it myself. I do know that there is not a prescribed way to do it. The doctors don't seem to have the method down to a science either. Don't rush. Just do what her body will tolerate without pain.
I didn't know about this method when I quit cold turkey, and I only heard about it around three months after I had already quit. Then I kept thinking I'd get better any day which turned out to not be true. If you're sick from withdrawal, it seems like for most of us that lasts a while. That's the only reason I'm recommending that your friend consider quitting slowly.
Best of luck to you both!!!
Posted by JouezMoi on March 24, 2007, at 22:40:44
In reply to Re: withdrawal » teady-joshua, posted by dancingstar on March 24, 2007, at 18:27:58
Joshua,
See my post on what worked for me. My doctor put me on 2 weeks of Tranxene. By the third day the symptoms disappeared completely, and this was after three months of trying to wean off slowly. I was down to 37.5mg every other day and suffering from the terrible physical withdrawal symptoms. (I had even ended up in the ER thinking I was having a stroke or epileptic event ..which I do not suffer from).
One week of Tranxene 10mg twice a day. One week of 10mg once a day.
Posted by FredPotter on March 25, 2007, at 15:55:53
In reply to Re: Horrible Withdrawls from EFFEXOR XR, posted by bayleebug on December 26, 2006, at 10:38:51
Prozac has a half-life of 5 weeks, while Effexor's is 7 hours. So withdrawal from Prozac isn't in the same league as Effexor. I had no withdrawal effects that I was aware of, except sex came back into my life. Effexor has been a very different story
Fred
Posted by FredPotter on March 28, 2007, at 0:25:34
In reply to Re: Horrible Withdrawls from EFFEXOR XR » bayleebug, posted by FredPotter on March 25, 2007, at 15:55:53
Of course half life isn't everything. The metabolites downstream be be psychoactive (good or bad). Indeed some drugs are not psychoactive by and of themselves at all. Also, as we are all told, brain changes occur, so presumably these can persist long after the half-life of the original drug. My psych said the time taken for the brain to recover from severe alcohol abuse is 6 years.
So I'm a bit despondent because, although the Effexor w/d effects may not last foerever, it may be months or years, and , well I'm 60 and time's running out. The whooshing when moving the eyes shows no sigs of abating (after 2 weeks - that's nothing I suppose and liveable with). But it make me wonder what's going on
Fred
Posted by FredPotter on March 28, 2007, at 0:32:48
In reply to Re: withdrawal » dancingstar, posted by JouezMoi on March 24, 2007, at 22:40:44
Could anyone provide a list of w/d effects for Effexor? Not the official one but one written by long-term sufferers like some of us.
Perpaps others could then add to it. We have to realise of course that w/d effects are merely "possibly attributable to . . .". If I'm run over by a steam-roller tomorrow I might list it but give it low credence as a w/d effect, unless fatigue and lack of concentration contributed.
I think steam rollers come in for a lot of flack personally. It's about 35 years since I've even seen one Fred
Posted by dancingstar on March 28, 2007, at 4:47:41
In reply to Re: Horrible Withdrawls from EFFEXOR XR » bayleebug, posted by FredPotter on March 25, 2007, at 15:55:53
The withdrawal effects that you want to know about are listed by thousands of people on the Effexor petition website, but Dr. Bob always erases it when we talk about it here; so I can't post the information for you. You can find it online if you do a google search. If you click on the little numbers, people tell you about why they sign it, and they say what all their symptoms were. Many have to do with problems because of withdrawal. I doubt that this post will last very long, and I'll probably be banned for telling you about the petition, or the post will be moved to the Hinterlands.
Hang in there, Fred. Sooner or later the swishing head problems go away. It takes a long time. I can' remember how long, but if it doesn't go away quickly, it may take a while. It does go away though. I'm not all that young. You will heal. Maybe it just takes a little longer when you're not 25, 30 anymore, I don't know. It's a very bumpy road. Strap yourself in, and don't give up!!!
My doctor has prescribed natural seratonin. I know that it's not supposed to cross the blood brain barrier, but I'll tell you, it works. I have to wonder who did the tests to say that it doesn't work. I think we lose it as we get older or something, like many of our other hormones. Anyway, when I began to take it, I got somewhat better.
Thorough blood tests showed that my body had stopped producing exercise-released HGH when I stopped taking Effexor; so I now have to take this along with natural cortisol for my adrenals, thyroid, natural estrogen and natural progesterone. My whole endocrine system was affected, and it had been perfectly healthy before. Once I got this regulated, my withdrawal symptoms began to go away.
I don't know if any of this information will prove helpful to someone, but you never know.
Posted by FredPotter on March 28, 2007, at 19:05:04
In reply to Re: Horrible Withdrawls from EFFEXOR XR, posted by dancingstar on March 28, 2007, at 4:47:41
Thanks that was exactly what I wanted to hear. I didn't know about the petition. What are the reasons for your actions Dr Bob? I thought the US enjoyed free speech. My whooshing is virtually gone, after 2 weeks. I don't cry in my sleep any more, but I cry at emotional things like (some) music again. Effexor I think had dammed it up.
Many thanks
Fred
Posted by FredPotter on March 29, 2007, at 21:30:08
In reply to Re: Horrible Withdrawls from EFFEXOR XR » dancingstar, posted by FredPotter on March 28, 2007, at 19:05:04
It would be nice to keep a list as experienced by us rather than compiled by unaffected people, always on the understanding that these are effects that might be unrelated.
Here's mine:
BTW Are there bad reactions to all these drugs or is Effexor particularly bad?I was very sleepy all the time while on it (3.5 years). I could sleep all day. This never was a feature of depression before. I've complained for 3 years to my Dr about this but he didn't know what to do apart from up the dose until I was on 375mg/day. Continual headache. Need to take more Xanax as it seemed to lose its efficacy. My main love in life, music, sounded like a meaningless noise. I felt like I didn't want to do anything. Weight gain came after about 2 years and may be my age (60). I couldn't cycle to work as I felt agoraphobic (more so than usual). Very tense. Unable to hold my body in a way that felt 'right'. High chest breathing. Feeling about to lose control.
My Dr told me to stop cold-turkey from 150mg/day, although he rang me up some days later to apologise and said I should have tapered it. I'll say. I've had insomnia, nightmares, crying in my dreams, waking with encrusted eyes, suicidal thoughts, crying at music (ah good it's come back), crying suddenly for no reason, even without feeling upset (weird), headache gone, Xanax response returned, stiff legs, walking like The Tin Man before Dorothy found her oil can, dysphoria (racing thoughts, like hypomanic but irritable), being crabby with people at work, which is completely out of character. My sleepiness is much alleviated however. I've started Nardil now so perhaps things will improve, perhaps I'll get a whole bunch of new side effects.
Fred
Posted by dancingstar on March 29, 2007, at 21:39:34
In reply to Re: Horrible Withdrawls from EFFEXOR XR » FredPotter, posted by FredPotter on March 29, 2007, at 21:30:08
I've posted mine many times, Fred. Check back through the Effexor threads from September of 2004.
Posted by FredPotter on March 30, 2007, at 0:03:49
In reply to Re: Horrible Withdrawls from EFFEXOR XR » FredPotter, posted by FredPotter on March 29, 2007, at 21:30:08
and I should have said in w/d section, a whooshing in the ears on moving my eyes, poor balance
Posted by FredPotter on March 30, 2007, at 0:07:24
In reply to Re: Horrible Withdrawls from EFFEXOR XR » FredPotter, posted by dancingstar on March 29, 2007, at 21:39:34
Dancingstar sorry to be naive. I'll do as you say and do some excavating.
Would you say there have been more reports of side and withdrawal effects from Effexor than other drugs eg Paxil?
Fred
Posted by FredPotter on March 30, 2007, at 0:15:58
In reply to Re: Horrible Withdrawls from EFFEXOR XR, posted by dancingstar on March 28, 2007, at 4:47:41
I'm sorry to hear about what sound like serious w/d effects from Effexor. I'm 60 so I expect I'm completely screwed.
By "natural serotonin" do you mean 5-HTP? This does cross the blood-brain barrier, unlike L-Tryptophan.
Do you know about the all natural Amoryn? I haven't tried it and wouldn't with Nardil
Very best Fred
Posted by JouezMoi on March 30, 2007, at 11:50:36
In reply to Re: Horrible Withdrawls from EFFEXOR XR » FredPotter, posted by dancingstar on March 29, 2007, at 21:39:34
The effects of Effexor were mostly positive for me.
(i) My anxiety disorder was well managed
(ii) My need to indulge in alcohol disappeared and has not yet returned
(iii) My anger outbusrts greatly reduced
(iv) Very entertaining dreams, which made sleeping a pleasure ... when I finally did get to sleep.
(v) Migraines stopped totallyHowever, the negative side-effects were -
(i) Initial weight loss (and I was only 110 lbs) so it made me look ill.
(ii) Yawning in the afternoon and drowsiness which made driving dangerous, especially after a full meal
(iii)Increased smoking ... may be due to effect on norepenephrine (spelling?)
(iv) Sugar and chocolate craving (started after the first 2 months), and I generally do not like sweet things. This resulted in some weight gain, which was not bad because I got back up to my normal weight.
(v) Blurred vision. My eyesight went from 20/10 to bad in two monthsWithdrawals from Effexor were -
(i) Constant nausea
(ii) Constant Headaches/ Migraines
(iii) Constant 24/7 Electric Shocks in head, every 30 seconds or so
(iv) Numbness and tingling in limbs following the electric shocks
(v) Weight loss ... to below normal, and still there
(vi) Eyesight still badly affected. I think I may need to get prescription lenses, and I have never worn them in my life. Or perhaps at 44, I am finally getting over-40 eyesight?
(vi) Nightmares .... Nightmares ... Nightmares about every PTSD type event I have ever experienced and then some. They have now stopped
(vii) Some return of anxiety and progression to somewhat hypomanic state. These are normalising.
(viii) Return of anger outbursts. These are now normalising.I am now about to start Cognitive Therapy (because I don't want anything to do with SSRIs or SNRIs ever again. I am also on one month of low dose Xanax now (.5mg/ day to help me cope with the reutrn of the anxiety).
Posted by dashley on March 31, 2007, at 15:09:15
In reply to Effexor Withdrawal Solution, posted by Jouezmoi on February 22, 2007, at 16:55:51
> All .... I have great news. A solution that has worked and I am finally Effexor free.
>
> After suffering for 3 months trying to get off of this drug, I finally got my doc to do something. He did some thinking and some research and came up with the simplest thing that worked immediately. Understand, I was down to 37.5mg a day and could not get below that without the debilitating withdrawal effects that you all have described, and had only been on 75mg a day for about 7 months.
>
> The solution? Tranxene. This drug is also used for severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms, and for some reason it worked perfectly for me.
>
> I started with Tranxene T, 10mg twice daily. By the 3rd day, the symptoms were gone ... gone ... no brain shocks, no brain shivers, no nausea, no nightmares .. back to normal. The regimen is 10mg twice daily for 1 week, then once daily for the 2nd week and thats it.
>
> I am finally free, and tranxene is a cheap drug. I think my doc needs an award for this one, because nowhere in all my research have I seen this as an option.
>
> You gotta try this.I'll try this one more time................
You are the 2nd person who I've heard of that tried this with wonderful results. I am calling my doctor on Monday morning. I will post the results!! Thanks for posting this.
>
Posted by over 55 on April 10, 2007, at 9:58:30
In reply to Re: Horrible Withdrawls from EFFEXOR XR » dancingstar, posted by FredPotter on March 30, 2007, at 0:15:58
I just wanted to report back from Effexor withdrawal that I had symptoms return when I went out of the country for two weeks (Thailand) and experienced return of "whooshing and brain zaps" in a significant way while traveling. It will be interesting to see if they subside again now that I am home. My internal clock must have been really messed up with the time change etc. Of-course the traveling alone caused some high anxiety at times; which may have contributed also. Another interesting aside is that my "balance" was really off and I did not realize it until I needed to walk a narrow path or use my balance for other things. I didn't feel off kilter; but sure was.
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Psycho-Babble Withdrawal | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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