![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 123 to 147 of 735. Go back in thread:
Posted by byron on November 21, 2003, at 0:14:33
In reply to Wits END!, posted by KimberlyDi on November 18, 2003, at 7:36:14
> I've gone down from 300mg to 75mg so far and may have to go cold turkey next. My soon-to-be-ex hubby stole all my medications (including for my cold!) along with my drivers license, visa/debit card, and my jewelry. None of my meds were anything he would enjoy. I can only guess he took them because he wants me to fall apart.
>
> He's doing a pretty good job of it. It's too early for refills. I don't know what to do.
>Couple of thoughts:
1) Quitting meds in the middle of high stress isn't very wise unless they're causing problems - and if that is the case, a change in meds might be better than quitting. Also if you Doc changes meds, then the too early rule to refill does not apply.
2) You may be able to get samples from your Doc.
3) If you are in crisis, you can go to your local MHMR crisis center, psychiatric emergency room and they'll probably help you if you can't afford to just buy it yourself.
4) Change your locks if your about to be ex is bugging you. If he comes around, call 911 and let the police sort it out, don't you try to do it.
5) Having a good therapist can be very helpful at times like these.Hope this helps,
Byron
Posted by jiggitykid on November 21, 2003, at 8:17:14
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl -, posted by mellinn on November 20, 2003, at 20:15:46
That's the dosage - 225, that I just quit. Read this board carefully and do some research. Effexor XR seems to be the flavor of the month with so many medical professionals. There are loads others out there, so make sure that you are taking the right one for you. I cannot stress enough that the patient is really the one in charge of her healing, not the doctors or the mental health pros. They are parts of the solution, but the true responsibility for healing lies with the patient in making informed choices and not going along with everything just because "the doctor says."
I am going through a nasty withdrawal from 225. This drug gets into your system and does not want to let go - ever. So, please, do your research, because the pharmacists won't tell you, the doctors won't tell you and the mental health pros won't tell you everything you need to know, no matter how caring and good they are. I wish you much success with defeating this horrible monster of depression.
Posted by jiggitykid on November 21, 2003, at 8:27:40
In reply to Advice for the weary?, posted by Scared Stiff on November 20, 2003, at 22:09:42
>>>I want to fell like "ME' again without the constant haze I get daily on Effexor and am completely terrified of even one panic attack.<<<
First, know that you are not alone. My suggestion would be that you see a mental health professional - not a GP. This is a major deal. Effexor robbed me of my personality, and has nearly destroyed my family. My husband was walking out last week. We have a 5 year old. He agreed to counselling, and I threw the Effexor in the toilet. Withdrawal has been horrible. Some here say that withdrawing slowly is the best way. That wouldn't work for me, so I went cold turkey. That is something you need to decide after you read the posts here and do some real research on your own. Talk with your husband and your family. Ask them if you have been "MIA" for a while. Were I to be you, I would do some serious asking and searching for a good mental health pro (for me, being a Christian is a must). Psychiatrists deal with the medical as well as the emotional. You really need more information to make your decision. For me, Effexor lifted the basic depression, but it fogged me up, made me sleepy, made me not give a damn about things that had been important to me, etc. Effexor is, in my opinion, a very dangerous, misused and misunderstood drug that needs serious re-evaluation by the FDA. I am looking for a class-action lawsuit to either join or start, because I don't think this should happen to anyone else. Someone here said that I am misguided and making generalizations, but I know what I know.
Take care and hang in there. You are in my prayers.
Posted by Stavros on November 21, 2003, at 13:38:15
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl -, posted by jiggitykid on November 21, 2003, at 8:17:14
My great Pdoc told me that if the withdrawl gets too bad that one pill of prozac can offset the effect significantly. You should inquire. I think others have posted about this as well.
s
> That's the dosage - 225, that I just quit. Read this board carefully and do some research. Effexor XR seems to be the flavor of the month with so many medical professionals. There are loads others out there, so make sure that you are taking the right one for you. I cannot stress enough that the patient is really the one in charge of her healing, not the doctors or the mental health pros. They are parts of the solution, but the true responsibility for healing lies with the patient in making informed choices and not going along with everything just because "the doctor says."
>
> I am going through a nasty withdrawal from 225. This drug gets into your system and does not want to let go - ever. So, please, do your research, because the pharmacists won't tell you, the doctors won't tell you and the mental health pros won't tell you everything you need to know, no matter how caring and good they are. I wish you much success with defeating this horrible monster of depression.
Posted by John2222 on November 21, 2003, at 21:47:31
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl -, posted by Stavros on November 21, 2003, at 13:38:15
I went to the health food store and bought a bag of empty gel caps (about several hundred for $5 as I remember).
I used that to make 50 mg capsules from 2 75 mg Effexor XR capsules. It's not a perfect division but it works.
Im now at 1/2 of 37.5 which is about 18 or 19 mg per day.
I got this suggestion from this or maybe a different forum and it has helped minimize adjustments downward.
Posted by mellinn on November 21, 2003, at 23:04:50
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl -, posted by jiggitykid on November 21, 2003, at 8:17:14
How long were you on the 225mg? I've been on it for about a year now - I am going to begin my inquiries regarding the long-term effects, as well as the weaning off of this. - My next psych appointment is first of January. If I cannot even function after a couple of days of missed dosage, I surely do not see how I will be able to function going cold turkey. Kudos to you for being brave enough to do that. I don't think I have the strength yet to do that. The Prozac supplement might be my best alternative. I will definately discuss this with my doctor during my next appointment. He may be quite suprised to hear how much I am learning about this; instead of just agreeing and saying "yes, things are great...never better...may I please have my prescription now." Not to imply he's a bad person, I just think that sometimes it gets too easy for some of these doctors to prescribe these amazingly powerful drugs and not really know the adverse affects it will have on some people. I'll be interested to see if he, in fact, has done his research and knows of the difficulty so many are having getting off this drug. Good luck with your journey - it surely doesn't sound easy, but if you have strong support, you can get through anything.
Posted by Dr...Not! on November 22, 2003, at 11:05:44
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl -jiggitykid, posted by mellinn on November 21, 2003, at 23:04:50
What size (mg) Prozac is being prescribed to offset the Effexor withdrawal symptoms?
Posted by Cetacea on November 22, 2003, at 22:25:42
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal symptoms!, posted by iluvdaisys on October 15, 2003, at 4:52:36
I've just found this website also, and am in the throes of getting off of Effexor 75mgs. It has been really helpful to see that my SE's from taking it are same as everyone else's, more or less, and my w/drawal symptoms are also. I'm on day #3 of cold turkey. After reading about the horror stories of staying on this, I couldn't make myself take one more pill: I've GOT to get off this. If I found out that a doctor had hooked me onto cocaine or heroin, I wouldn't wait one more day before quitting the stuff, NO MATTER WHAT the side-effects were going to be, and I wouldn't (I keep telling myself!) give one thought to whether or not the w/drawal was gonna do me in. Maybe I'm just that untrusting and scared of being hooked into something, but it really undoes me emotionally to think of being addicted to a substance. [alot of alcoholism in my family-of-origin] Bad enough to have a problem w/food (which I do). I have to eat. I don't have to continue taking anything that's going to make me more sick than I was to start with. Maybe when the depression and anxiety come roaring back, I'll be whistling another tune. Meanwhile, my one thought is, "I'm outta here" re Effexor XL, or Effexor-anything. I'm really surprised that my doctor would put a human being on this drug, and I think the drs just DO NOT KNOW the miseries Effexor's causing. I'm hoping that I'm going to be "lucky" and not have 3 weeks (or more: 3 DAYS is too much!) of illness from getting off this drug. I cannot IMAGINE having w/drawal miseries that last a year. Even tho' that quack-site was definitely preying on our wanting an "out" from the SE's and w/drawals we've brought on by taking Effexor, the quack's info about Effexor appeared right on target, and I'll betcha few-to-no doctors (esp the pcp's) know about those *consequences* of taking Effexor.
Now, I would like to thank the person who wrote in that stopping Effexor does not always bring on the nightmare scenario that has been so widely reported by others on this site. [wishing I could get lucky on this!] I would also like to thank whoever it was who told us that taking even *one* prozac pill (in the middle of bad withdrawals) could make a huge difference. I haven't done that yet, but I have some prozac pills, and I like knowing that there IS a cushion out there for me if the world comes apart worse than it has already in the withdrawal dept. I also didn't know that the itching I've had today was caused by w/drawing. Since insomnia was one of my problems pre-effexor, I'd worried that stopping it would bring that right back, and I didn't realize that sleeping MORE was (or could be) a w/drawal symptom. As you may imagine, that part has not been so bad for me. The zaps and cardiac arrhythmias are worrisome, and I seem to have moments when I "lose it" in a way that makes me think I should not drive for a few more days. I would like not to be queasy in the stomach for a change, and losing the weight I've gained (that's what caused me to look for this group) on Effexor would be really nice. I told my doctor that the only thing for me worse than depression was depression PLUS weight gain from meds. Sorry to be rambling! I'm just so grateful to've found people who have had an experience like mine. Sorry we're all in this boat, but if each of us had no knowledge of the others, it would be even worse --so I'm grateful for you all! Hope we all make it out of this cauldron, and SOON!
*********************
> Hi, I just found this site, after waking up so itchy that I thought I'd research my problem. I'm on effexor right now, and want off. I've been on it since about April of this year, and it has been a nightmare ever since. I cry so easy now. I take trazadone to cope with the effexor. And god help me if I miss a dose of effexor!!!!! I've embarrassed myself at work a number of times now, with my crying. Now, I'm itching all over, especially my hands, feet and scalp. I don't know if it is from the effexor or not. I want my doctor to ween me off, but after forgetting a dose twice in a row, and the nightmare that came with that...I'm frightened of withdrawl. I just felt the need to post here. I have what my doc thinks is manic depression, and I have severe panic attacks and PTSD. I'm afraid to try another med...I don't want to be trapped in another nightmare like this :( My family needs me, and I'm just not really here. Any input is appreciated. I don't have a clue what I'm hoping to hear, but I hope to hear something.
Posted by Cetacea on November 22, 2003, at 22:48:46
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl - I did it, so can you, posted by soshie on November 2, 2003, at 8:54:01
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
I've been having 'brain shivers' and just thought I was "losing it", my term for the feeling! I had thought I was "lucky" not to have them. Oh well: Live and learn!
***********> Here is a series of articles on Brain Shivers that taught me a lot....
>
> http://depression.about.com/cs/venlafaxine/a/brainshivers.htm
>
>
Posted by Stavros on November 22, 2003, at 22:57:55
In reply to How many mg Prozac?, posted by Dr...Not! on November 22, 2003, at 11:05:44
I suffered the withdrawls of Effexor the first time I went off it after several months on a typical therapeutic dosages. I don't fully rememember but I did know that withdrawls would and did take place. I hated it all but compared to the hopelessness that I felt I could bear it. The second time (recently)i went on Effexor was at the lowest dose 37.5 and my experience was better as well as withdrawls too. That is when my excellent Pdoc recommend i take a cap of prozac to offset of any withdrawls but i again didn't care about the zaps, flu like stuff etc. Don't get me wrong it was terrible but with the lower dose it only lasted a few days? All to say that I do not know what dose of Prozac to take the ills away from Effexor withdrawls. I would imagine someone over the last few years posted it somewhere on this site? While Effexor has caused some of us ill I know there are probably just as many people who have gained a new life from it. Every Rx written has the potential to be a death certificate. Matters of the chemical mind are very difficult to know. I have no idea why any MD would chose psychiatry? The stress would be way too much for me. Zoloft made me so suicidal and for my girlfriend it helps hold her life together???There are no panaceas out there for any of us other than hope. I need you all to represent both the pros and cons. I am considering going on Effexor, very los doses for a 3rd time among other things. These are trying times for all of us babblers.
Take it lite,
S
PS placebo effect can be as high as 50% and I need every little bit to get me over this hump/mountian and out of my own prison.
Posted by Cetacea on November 22, 2003, at 23:06:15
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawl - crashed and burned, posted by karen t bag on November 8, 2003, at 8:06:37
I'm on day 3, I'm 55, and your story could be mine, but I sure hope not! I hope you're doing better now (maybe you've posted farther down; I'm working my way there), and I hope my own DAY 4 doesn't go like yours did. I do NOT want to crash and burn my way back to Effexor. Before I would take another of those pills, I would take a prozac. Someone asked what dosage (mg) to take, and I would like to know that also. However, I'm guessing that taking *any* amount of prozac (if it helps at all the way 'they say' it does) would sustain me thru the rough spots that may be ahead. Let me tell you all: I'm plenty scared and respectful of the problems that getting off of Effexor can deal out to me or to anyone. It appears to be a crap-shot as to who, how bad, and from what dose. Hanging in here...thanks to you ALL!
************************
> > Well, that went well (NOT)! I'm back on Effexor XR after 4 days off! The withdrawal was too awful, so we're going to keep me at 75 mg for a month, then cut down by 15mg for a month, and then another 15, and then 7 and 7.
> >
> > As it was, Sunday am (5 days ago) was supposed to be my last dose, but by Fri I couldn't stand the nausea, crying, nightmares and sweating any more.
>
> dont worry you did your best - i cant beleive doctors put us on this in the first place - im sure it should be banned - but keep going - we are all out here for you
> xxx
Posted by Karalyn on November 22, 2003, at 23:19:38
In reply to How many mg Prozac?, posted by Dr...Not! on November 22, 2003, at 11:05:44
hey I talked about using one prozac to get off of Effexor. so it may have been my post you saw...as I recall it was a low dose...uhm..i dont remember what the amount was for sure, but I can find out for you. my warning to you is that i experience high suicidal thoughts after taking that prozac and I thought it was just from going off of meds(effexor) and being depressed in general. however i read on this site that prozac can cause you to be more depressed and have more suicidal thoughts. i didnt really have them before as bad or frequent. email me at [email protected] and if you have more questions. sometimes its hard to make sure someone gets your post or whatever.
Posted by dMacy on December 17, 2003, at 18:26:35
In reply to Re: How many mg Prozac?, posted by Karalyn on November 22, 2003, at 23:19:38
Hi All, I'm glad I'm not alone in this!
I used to be on Celexa for about a 18months and, like a cliche, decided eveything was rosy and I didn't need to support the pharmas any more. Yep the shrink warned me that this was a typical pattern and he thought it to be a bad idea to quit, but I did anyway, cold turkey... the withdrawl symptoms SUCKED. If you're going through Effexor withdrawal, I'll just say the symptoms are very similar.
6 months later after I had crashed into the deep again, I started Effexor and have been on it for only 8 months. It hasn't help much with the depression expect for a general numbing affect. The lack of improvement and the concern over the lack of studies about adverse long-term effects prompted me to drop this beast. Remebering the awful month-long withdrawl episode from Celexa, I started to taper my doseage.
Originaly 75mg/day XR version.
4 weeks at 37.5, no problems noticed.
3 weeks at ~18mg (half the 37.5), still no problems.
I figured that this was so far below what the doctors or pharmas consider to be significant that I'd just stop.... he,he, jokes on me!
I tolerated the past 2 days off of the stuff, with all of the general problems described by everyone else here. It is awful!
I'm an engineer and basically can't do my job, have embarassed myself at work due to the confusion and memory problems, and am too dizzy to safely drive.
So I return to the beast tonight... and start taking a 1/8th dose.The thing that really makes me angry about this (besides falling for the pharmas' promises again) is that the drug companies can get away with this. There should have been studies about potential withdrawl problems, there should have been an appropriate process for ramping-down off this stuff, there should have been warnings given before being handed a prescription. Yeah,yeah buyer beware, but there are no resources for reliable information and when selling drugs to people who are desperate for help.... aggh, enough, if you're here reading this, you probably know all this...
I'll get off this drug sooner or later, and, partly because it's the last ssri I had left to try and partly because I no longer trust the drug companies, I hope to make it the last AD for me. (... oh yeah? heh,heh, you'll be back, when you've hit bottom again and finally crawl out of bed, you'll be back, begging for a little hope... heh,heh, and we'll be waiting... )
Yeeeeaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!
Posted by Cetacea on December 17, 2003, at 19:22:55
In reply to ya effexor withdrawl account, posted by dMacy on December 17, 2003, at 18:26:35
Hello,
It's quite a bad trip getting off of EffexorXR. I'm not sure that I've actually 'gotten there', but I'm about 3 weeks away from my last dose, after having many (and changing) side effects from the medicine. Previously I'd taken Prozac for a while, so after reading that taking *even one prozac pill* (no dose specified at that time) could help when w/drawal got bad from quitting EffexorXL (75mgs for me), I got my mind ready for using one of the many prozac pills I had left. Not sure now (not running a scientific study on myself), but I think it was about day #5 when I thought I was going to have endless intestinal cramps from the withdrawals. Seems like around day #4 the "mind zaps" got *better* (not all gone even now), only to have terrible intestinal cramping occur. As others have noted, the *only* good withdrawal :))) has been that I've been sleeping really well, all things considered. I've decided that when my sleep-pattern deteriorates to what it was before I got on Effexor XL, I will know that I'm *normal* again. ;) [I'll know also, when my strange, vivid dreams cease.] 'Word-retrieval' is getting better, and it was one of the more obnoxious side-effects for me taking Effexor. Back to w/drawals: I took one 10mg Prozac on (I think it was) the 5th night of cold turkey, and then I took 1/2 (5mgs) of prozac for the next 2 nights. I haven't had any prozac since. I do have some lorazepam .5mgs for bad GERD pains, but I don't think I've taken any of that. But I would have, if I'd had trouble sleeping during those awful intestinal cramps, and some here say that that ("ativan") also helps w/the withdrawals. It really would be nice if I never had to take another "pill". Because I also have a form of arthritis, I've had drs pushing pills at me for some time. My mother (85yo)has the same arthritis (but worse), and she has taken very few meds across time. It's really a delicate balance and an individual choice (IMO) about what/how much medicine to take for the agonies of life. It always seems to me to be most respectful of the patient for the shrink or other doc to *let us* decide as much as possible what and how much medicine we can take/tolerate, and how much is *helpful*. It is downright *sinful* (IMO) for the pharmaceutical cos to 'pull a fast one' on us (both patients and docs) about the hazards of the meds they're hawking. There are (IMO) many conditions that can be helped thru diet and supplements (yes, I know this is slightly into another forum), but there is very little financial gain for all commercial interests involved (including docs), so the pharmaceutical products are sort of "pushed" at both us and our docs. It's sort of a cultural thing, IMO. But I digress, just as you did!
This experience w/Effexor XL (75mgs) has really been a learning experience for me. I've heard of many horror stories from folks who either had horrible w/drawals getting off of it, or *who could NOT get off of it*. I did not like the *dumbing down* it did, the weight gain it was not supposed to do (but did on me), the increase in hot flashes (terrible sweats at night) it gave me (I'm 55yo), the increased appetite (for *anything edible*).
May I add that I support *whatever you do*, that keeps you on a fairly even keel, esp at this time of year, when everybody's supposed to be so *holiday cheerful*. The stress of the Christmas season (never meant to be that way!) is really tough. I've never been aware of having any Seasonal Affective Disorder, but the "family alcohism" that my sibs and I endured, seems to have imprinted us for life, maybe even worse than SAD.
Hope something I've said is helpful to you. I find myself turning in a sour direction at this point, so it's best I stop my message. I sure appreciate the info and support I've gotten here, esp about Effexor, but also about mind-meds in general. This group I find to be well-informed and articulate and generous with their postings.
Many thanks!
Hi All, I'm glad I'm not alone in this!
>
> I used to be on Celexa for about a 18months and, like a cliche, decided eveything was rosy and I didn't need to support the pharmas any more. Yep the shrink warned me that this was a typical pattern and he thought it to be a bad idea to quit, but I did anyway, cold turkey... the withdrawl symptoms SUCKED. If you're going through Effexor withdrawal, I'll just say the symptoms are very similar.
>
> 6 months later after I had crashed into the deep again, I started Effexor and have been on it for only 8 months. It hasn't help much with the depression expect for a general numbing affect. The lack of improvement and the concern over the lack of studies about adverse long-term effects prompted me to drop this beast. Remebering the awful month-long withdrawl episode from Celexa, I started to taper my doseage.
> Originaly 75mg/day XR version.
> 4 weeks at 37.5, no problems noticed.
> 3 weeks at ~18mg (half the 37.5), still no problems.
> I figured that this was so far below what the doctors or pharmas consider to be significant that I'd just stop.... he,he, jokes on me!
> I tolerated the past 2 days off of the stuff, with all of the general problems described by everyone else here. It is awful!
> I'm an engineer and basically can't do my job, have embarassed myself at work due to the confusion and memory problems, and am too dizzy to safely drive.
> So I return to the beast tonight... and start taking a 1/8th dose.
>
> The thing that really makes me angry about this (besides falling for the pharmas' promises again) is that the drug companies can get away with this. There should have been studies about potential withdrawl problems, there should have been an appropriate process for ramping-down off this stuff, there should have been warnings given before being handed a prescription. Yeah,yeah buyer beware, but there are no resources for reliable information and when selling drugs to people who are desperate for help.... aggh, enough, if you're here reading this, you probably know all this...
>
> I'll get off this drug sooner or later, and, partly because it's the last ssri I had left to try and partly because I no longer trust the drug companies, I hope to make it the last AD for me. (... oh yeah? heh,heh, you'll be back, when you've hit bottom again and finally crawl out of bed, you'll be back, begging for a little hope... heh,heh, and we'll be waiting... )
>
> Yeeeeaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!
Posted by Dr...Not! on December 17, 2003, at 23:15:22
In reply to Re: ya effexor withdrawl account, posted by Cetacea on December 17, 2003, at 19:22:55
OK, still on 75mg Effexor XR per day. Heart palpitations have markedly decreased (yay!). So have "night sweats" (double yay!). Will probably not change dosage for another couple of months.
Posted by jiggitykid on December 18, 2003, at 8:20:40
In reply to ya effexor withdrawl account, posted by dMacy on December 17, 2003, at 18:26:35
I have been "off" effexor XR for about a month, give or take a few days. The brain zaps are very few - maybe one or two per day. The heart rate is back to normal. The dizziness has subsided, but my eye sight still isn't quite normal. The hot/cold is better, the nausea is gone, but daily diarrhea is in effect. For the first three or so weeks, I was extra-talkative, fast moving, imperative, but that has settled down. My sleep is normal, for the first time in a very, very long time. The dramatic dreams have settled down. About the third week, the dreams disappeared completely and I had completely dreamless sleep for several days. Boy, how nice! My normal dream pattern has come back, and I don't carry around haunting images all day the way I did after quitting effexor. My doctor "strongly encouraged" me to take 5 mg. of Lexapro, but I refused. I just as "strongly" felt that I needed to see how my brain was all by itself, off of any meds, before I began anything else. Please note that I am not recommending this for everyone; this is just what I knew I had to do for myself. I have not, as yet, needed any other med for depression. I am watching myself, as are some key people around me, for signs of change. My daily prayer is that I will not have to go on anything else, if not for a while, then forever.
When I first discovered antidepressants, I credited them with truly saving my life. I was ready for the ledge. However, as the dosages had to be increased, the side-effects increased. Sadly, often when I would go to my GP (and there was a mistake; I should have been under the care of a therapist/psychiatrist in tandem) I would complain of a lack of effectiveness or an increase in the depression, and instead of figuring out if the antidepressant was no longer working for me or if there were other triggers, the current dosage was increased. Effexor XR nearly ended my marriage and my life. I understand that there are folks here to depend on it simply to get up each morning. I caution you to be open to recognizing the danger signs of Effexor - fatigue, loss of interest in everything, appetite increase, crying easily, etc. Ironically, bad effects of effexor mimic depression! So when I thought I was sinking, I was really needing to get off of the Effexor.
Keep in touch with your doctor and make sure he/she is listening to what you are saying. If you don't have a therapist/psychiatrist, I urge you into considering getting one. Mental health needs a two-fold approach, and a therapist alone OR a GP alone aren't enough.
I wish you all a better year. I am praying for you all to make it successfully through the holiday season. Please don't let your feelings today make permanent, irrevocable decisions for tomorrow. Find the people around you who really do love you and will be willing to support you during transition times. Put your heart in God's hands. He'll take care of it. Please, take care of yourself. You are worth your time.
Posted by Cetacea on December 18, 2003, at 9:11:23
In reply to Re: ya effexor withdrawl account, posted by jiggitykid on December 18, 2003, at 8:20:40
Hi, Effexor-survivors, all:
Well, it's been about 3-4 weeks since my last 75mg effexor XR, and I'm still going thru some "effects" from getting off the stuff. Yesterday I went to see "The Last Samurai". Even before the movie began, I had trouble with the visual images in the "previews" they show. Some of the special effects seemed to affect *me* a little bit like the 'mind-zaps' (brain shivers, to some degree) that were so bad when stopping Effexor. Then, in the last 15 mins of the movie, along came a *big bad aura* heralding the onset of a notable migraine headache. I'm sitting here suffering right now, but the fact that I AM here says it must not be THAT bad, and looking at a CRT is an additional *trigger* for migraine pain for me. But I have a need to share this. In a very recent post to this thread, someone very generously gave a link to some british (I think)studies or comments about Effexor and the problems it gives when one goes w/o it (as in skips a dose or goes *cold turkey*). Anyway, I took a hop there and was interested in the reports people made. One person said he/she had a self-tested theory that *body movement* doesn't cause those pesky brain shivers, but that it's the *visual movement*, movement across one's visual field. I guess that a combo of the 2 could make it hard to detect which causes what. [This is NOT to say that the 'brain shivers' don't occur all by themselves, w/o any 'triggers' at all: I think they can and DO] I have a history of migraine headaches across most of my lifetime (mostly the kind w/the visual effects, "auras", but some like a sinus headache from the Hot Spot where they say the Devil ;) lives). In the last decade most of my aura-migraines have not been this painful. They have not had the quantity or quality IMO of "special effects" in the aura that this one had. Yes, it is that 'stressful time of year', and maybe that caused it, but it sure reminded me of something attached to those dreadful mind-zaps.
I'm almost afraid to walk into another movie, and had wanted so much to see LOTR-Return of the King, as a diversion from the realities of the season that are not exactly cheerful around here. If I went to see it today (over 3 hrs of that movie), I'd be walking in, ALREADY with a headache. I guess I'll wait for a while.
BTW, I've gotten pretty comfortable driving at this point in w/drawal, but it was tricky for a while, esp at night. For about the first 2-3 days I voluntarily *avoided* getting behind the wheel, and I suggest that others give that some thought, when considering when and how to carry-off getting Effexor outta their systems.
Hope this helps somebody.
Posted by jiggitykid on December 18, 2003, at 21:12:03
In reply to Visual effects from Effexor withdrawal , posted by Cetacea on December 18, 2003, at 9:11:23
>>>but it was tricky for a while, esp at night. For about the first 2-3 days I voluntarily *avoided* getting behind the wheel, and I suggest that others give that some thought, when considering when and how to carry-off getting Effexor outta their systems.<<<
I had forgotten that - I tried driving at night approx. one week after stopping the effexor. The brain zaps were awful and the dizziness was increased. Do take care when driving. Thanks for mentioning this!!
Posted by Dr...Not! on December 18, 2003, at 21:58:58
In reply to Re: Visual effects from Effexor withdrawal , posted by jiggitykid on December 18, 2003, at 21:12:03
"I forgot!" How often I say that to myself, when reading all your posts! Anyhoo, I had been having trouble reading and was going to go see if I needed new glasses . . . forgot about the eye problems Effexor gives me! Now that things have settled down -- surprise! -- don't need new glasses.
Hope I remember this when I start decreasing my dosage in the spring, but I probably won't. *Sigh*
Best wishes to you all for a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
Posted by Carmen Lydia on December 28, 2003, at 4:16:48
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal symptoms!, posted by Heather33 on October 4, 2003, at 21:27:27
Recently, I accidentally forgot to take my Effexor XR 150mg which I would take 2 pills at once, as directed by my physician. I believe I've now missed a total of 3 days. I immediately started to feel ill and honestly thought I was coming down with the flu or something. I started to feel dizzy and very light headed. I had high blood pressure before going on Effexor, so when I started to have palpitations and an increased heart rate, I thought it was just me. Also, I'm experiencing a very high anxiety feeling in my chest. Like I'm overly worried about something, when in reality I'm not. I'm also feeling a sickening and nauseating feeling in my stomach along with cramps and diarrhea. My body is achy and I've not gotten much sleep. Or I do sleep and find myself having weird and off the wall dreams. Another weird thing is that if I sleep a couple of hours, I physically feel as if I've slept an entire night or if I slept all night I feel very unrested. I also find myself waking up frequently during the night. The only thing that really stood out and concerned me were these weird feelings in my head. They are not there constantly but come and go. They are very frequent, every 5-10 minutes or so. They feel like these electrical or zapping sensations, that made me realize that this is not the flu. Along with everything that I'm feeling...I'm feeling dizzy. I'm in the medical field and am therefore exposed to patients who are sick, especially now with, "flu season" in full bloom. On one hand I'm glad that I don't have the flu and on the other I am worried sick and wonder how long is this going to go on for. I cannot believe how one can be off of a medication for one day and start to experience all of these withdrawal symptoms, this is absolutely incredible. I unfortunately do not have any Effexor with me at the house, so I have to wait another day or so before I can get any. Do I start back up on 300mgs? This is truly confusing and unreal. I feel so light headed, dizzy, stomach is killing me, achy body, I feel weak and I'm sluggish. This feels like a nightmare. My head is in a cloud and to top it off I'm reminded every 5-10 minutes that I'm an idiot for forgetting to carry and take my medication, by receiving electrical shocks/zapps in my head. But, prior to going off the Effexor, my blood pressure medication was changed and I immediately started to get these severe hot flashes. When I reported this to my physician I was told that my new blood pressure medication was absolutely NOT the cause of it. Now that I'm feeling the way that I am, I honestly believe that the Effexor is the cause of those hot flashes as well.
Posted by Cetacea on December 28, 2003, at 9:13:05
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal symptoms!, posted by Carmen Lydia on December 28, 2003, at 4:16:48
For me, Effexor XR (75mg)delivered MORE hotflashes. I'm 55 and have had what I determine to be mild/moderate hotflashes when not on any meds. Prozac (10mg) greatly alleviated them but relieved me of any sexual desire, also.
The w/drawal symptoms that you noticed I had also. The "mind-zaps" [such as you describe and for me also delivering a feeling that I must describe almost like a "petit mal" seizure --or my idea of one, almost like "losing it" for a millisecond] I'm still having, much less frequently and much less in intensity, some 4-5 weeks after stopping Effexor. I *did* take one 10mg Prozac on day (hmm??) 5 (I think) and then 1/2 prozac (5mg) for the next 2 nights. I do believe this helped. And then I stopped ALL "pills" except for vitamin pills. I also use flax seed oil and ground flaxseed on a regular basis. While getting this effexor *monkey* off my back, I had *terrible* mind zaps, bad back pain which "turned into" intestinal flu-type misery, but *with a difference*. As someone else (ahead of me by a coupla weeks in getting off Effexor) said, the wild dreams w/*waking 'trailers'* from them have diminished in me greatly around 4-5 weeks away from the last effexor. It has been almost devastating to live thru (wondering if I *could*) the "black thoughts" that I've had while getting off of this drug. Except for the somatic side-effects (not just "sexual", but also some kind of 'zombie' lack of enjoying 'touching' of any kind), Prozac would be my "favorite" mind-med. In *retrospect*, Effexor was more *altering* to my personality than I choose to have happen to me. It also seems to have had some effect on other things: My heart arrhythmias were/are 'different', both on Effexor and still, some weeks later [not pleasant]. My sleeping patterns (deteriorating over the last few years, but never "okay", probably due to alcoholism in parents, active at night, when I was a child) are still different. In fact, I really wish I could KEEP the "withdrawal effect" of *sleeping more soundly*, which I have experienced since getting off of Effexor. As scary as it is to think about a drug having some unknown, unsought *permanent* effect on one's brain, it would be a *gift* if my old sleep patterns (lots of wakefulness thru the night, w/difficulty dropping off to sleep and problematic early (too early) waking) would not return.
Have you noticed that effexor alters your visual acuity? It did mine. I would not choose to go back onto Effexor. I *might* go back onto Prozac. Welbutrin delivered instant bad headaches (I'm a migraine sufferer anyway). Lexapro wasn't very effective, but right now I cannot remember *why*. Some of the "anxiolytic" mind meds have worked okay for me, but I do not want to be addicted to them. Most things work during a crisis for me, but I do not want to remain on them. I would like to find *some other way* to relieve depression. Besides 'mind meds', I've tried (and still "use") many of the other strategies for coping w/my depression/black thoughts, such as exercise and meditation.
I hope you are able to find a solution that works for you! Forgetting to take pills can lead to an unpleasant experience. Forgetting to bring them with you when you go somewhere sounds like a terrible experience. The info on this site has been an *eye-opener* to me, and everything I've read here about Effexor withdrawals has proved accurate from my own experience, with variations in 'intensity'. Some of us lose weight on it; some gain weight on it. Things like that vary, but it seems that most of us have some amount of the same withdrawal symptoms when getting off of it. Good luck to you!
> Recently, I accidentally forgot to take my Effexor XR 150mg which I would take 2 pills at once, as directed by my physician. I believe I've now missed a total of 3 days. I immediately started to feel ill and honestly thought I was coming down with the flu or something. I started to feel dizzy and very light headed. I had high blood pressure before going on Effexor, so when I started to have palpitations and an increased heart rate, I thought it was just me. Also, I'm experiencing a very high anxiety feeling in my chest. Like I'm overly worried about something, when in reality I'm not. I'm also feeling a sickening and nauseating feeling in my stomach along with cramps and diarrhea. My body is achy and I've not gotten much sleep. Or I do sleep and find myself having weird and off the wall dreams. Another weird thing is that if I sleep a couple of hours, I physically feel as if I've slept an entire night or if I slept all night I feel very unrested. I also find myself waking up frequently during the night. The only thing that really stood out and concerned me were these weird feelings in my head. They are not there constantly but come and go. They are very frequent, every 5-10 minutes or so. They feel like these electrical or zapping sensations, that made me realize that this is not the flu. Along with everything that I'm feeling...I'm feeling dizzy. I'm in the medical field and am therefore exposed to patients who are sick, especially now with, "flu season" in full bloom. On one hand I'm glad that I don't have the flu and on the other I am worried sick and wonder how long is this going to go on for. I cannot believe how one can be off of a medication for one day and start to experience all of these withdrawal symptoms, this is absolutely incredible. I unfortunately do not have any Effexor with me at the house, so I have to wait another day or so before I can get any. Do I start back up on 300mgs? This is truly confusing and unreal. I feel so light headed, dizzy, stomach is killing me, achy body, I feel weak and I'm sluggish. This feels like a nightmare. My head is in a cloud and to top it off I'm reminded every 5-10 minutes that I'm an idiot for forgetting to carry and take my medication, by receiving electrical shocks/zapps in my head. But, prior to going off the Effexor, my blood pressure medication was changed and I immediately started to get these severe hot flashes. When I reported this to my physician I was told that my new blood pressure medication was absolutely NOT the cause of it. Now that I'm feeling the way that I am, I honestly believe that the Effexor is the cause of those hot flashes as well.
Posted by MSR on December 28, 2003, at 18:23:14
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal symptoms!, posted by Cetacea on December 28, 2003, at 9:13:05
I just found this website and I have found it very educational. I have only been on Effexor for about 6 months. I started the medication as I was going through a divorce and now feel like I do not want to be dependent on antidepressant medication. So, I stopped taking them "cold-turkey" 5 days ago and I have been having awful withdrawal symptoms. I have never slept so much in my life. I can sleep for 14 hours, wake up for 2, then take a nap for 3 more. I have also experienced the strange dreams, but mostly just complete lack of energy. While on the medication, I gained weight which made me feel more depressed. Now, with the irregular heartbeat and dizziness, I feel like I can hardly even walk up the stairs. I'm only 25 years old! I feel so weak and nausious (sp?). I am going on a cruise in 6 days and can't decide now if I should start taking the medicine again so I will feel better, or just stick it out a little longer. I've made it 5 days and certainly don't want to go through this again. But, I also don't want to be suffering these symptoms on my much-needed vacation. By the time I leave for my trip it will be 11 days. Do you think I will feel better by then? Thanks for any advice.
Posted by Dr...Not! on December 28, 2003, at 20:39:10
In reply to Quit cold-turkey. Should I start back?, posted by MSR on December 28, 2003, at 18:23:14
You're experiencing common side effects of withdrawal. They may go on longer than 11 days.
Contact your doctor immediately. Do not attempt cold-turkey withdrawal. Your doctor will probably have you resume your dosage at the current level, and then taper you off over a period of weeks/months. Several people have reported that a low dosage of Prozac was helpful during their final stage of withdrawl (see previous posts). You might want to mention this to your doctor.
Posted by Cetacea on December 28, 2003, at 21:02:04
In reply to Quit cold-turkey. Should I start back?, posted by MSR on December 28, 2003, at 18:23:14
Hi,
Look back into the posts and see what they say about taking Prozac or some anxiety med as a sort of "buffer" getting off the Effexor. One person said that taking even OTC Benadryl will help (not sure how, but I did buy some in case I got desperate). My guess (and that's all it is) is that you will have some problems remaining in 6 days, although, bear in mind that *each of us is individual* and maybe you will not suffer as bad continuing symptoms. Not sure, here, what difference your "youth" may have for your getting over the Effexor maybe sooner than some of us "oldies". If possible, I'd try (if I were you) to get ahold of 2 10mg pills of Prozac and do what I did. It sure helped me (I had it "on hand"), probably because of its long "half-life" that others have talked about here. Please call your doctor and tell him/her that you want to get off Effexor and that people are telling you that you can do it most easily "under the cover of Prozac". Tell him/her that you took yourself off of it and are having bad somatic feelings, but that you *do not want to go thru the first 5 days of w/drawals all over again*. That's my best advice. It may be worth exactly what you're paying for it, so don't take my opinion as "gospel". Also, I recall reading that *exercise* helps withdrawals, and I made sure to walk about 30mins, 5-7 days/week, minimum (am still doing this). It really, REALLY helped *me*.
Take a look back in the archived posts, and I think you will find *the best* info for folks getting off of Effexor 'fast'. It's no 'shame', IMO, to get back on it if you have to, and I think getting off of it w/the help of your doctor is the safest, most sane way to get the stuff outta your system. As is too often the case, however, your dr may not even realize the terrible withdrawal symptoms that many/most of us have. So you may have to tell him/her what you're experiencing and what you've read here. On another "board" I saw a reference to a 1998 psychiatric journal, where it was said that Prozac is a good drug for helping patients get off of Effexor. Let me see if I can paste the info here:
***************
W.J. Giakas, J.M. Davis, Intractable withdrawal from venlafaxine treated with fluoxetine, Psychiatric Annals, February 1997, 27 (2), 85-86 and 92.Authors report three consecutive cases (26-35 year old women) where patients experienced severe withdrawal after discontinuing venlaxfaxine, following treatment ranging from a week or two to seven months: "Repeated attempts at gradually tapering the dosage were unsuccessful and led to intolerable withdrawal sensations." In these and other cases, authors noted appearance of withdrawal symptoms within a few hours of patient missing a dose. Although, symptoms they saw "are not identical to a fully-fledged psychedelic experience or a true migraine headache, similarity is evident..." In all cases, venlafaxine was eventually discontinued under cover of fluoxetine, which itself was later withdrawn uneventfully in one of the three cases.
******
There it is. Hope this helps you, and I wish you the best in your plans! Hope you go on the cruise and have a GREAT TIME!~Cetacea~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> I just found this website and I have found it very educational. I have only been on Effexor for about 6 months. I started the medication as I was going through a divorce and now feel like I do not want to be dependent on antidepressant medication. So, I stopped taking them "cold-turkey" 5 days ago and I have been having awful withdrawal symptoms. I have never slept so much in my life. I can sleep for 14 hours, wake up for 2, then take a nap for 3 more. I have also experienced the strange dreams, but mostly just complete lack of energy. While on the medication, I gained weight which made me feel more depressed. Now, with the irregular heartbeat and dizziness, I feel like I can hardly even walk up the stairs. I'm only 25 years old! I feel so weak and nausious (sp?). I am going on a cruise in 6 days and can't decide now if I should start taking the medicine again so I will feel better, or just stick it out a little longer. I've made it 5 days and certainly don't want to go through this again. But, I also don't want to be suffering these symptoms on my much-needed vacation. By the time I leave for my trip it will be 11 days. Do you think I will feel better by then? Thanks for any advice.
Posted by MSR on December 28, 2003, at 22:01:16
In reply to Re: Quit cold-turkey. Should I start back?, posted by Cetacea on December 28, 2003, at 21:02:04
Thank you for your help. I guess I was being silly not to talk about this with my doctor. I do not have much confidence in her advice, however. I told her originally that I was only mildly depressed and did not want to be on a "strong" or addictive medication. My symptoms were mostly sleeping all the time, lack of motivation, and anxiety. She first put me on Welbutrin which caused more anxiety, high blood pressure, & panic attacks. So, we tried the Effexor, which seemed to help with the anxiety, but caused me to be even more lethargic and reclusive. She never warned me of the terrible withdrawal symptoms from stopping the Effexor. I just want to feel happy, not like I'm on drugs!
I will certainly call her and try the Prozac. From what I have read here and on the other posts, it seems to be very helpful. I will also exercise more. I'm sure that will help give me more energy and may even have the added benefit of helping me drop the 15 pounds I gained in the last 4 months. :)
After going through this horrible feeling all week, I really don't want to start taking the Effexor again. I imagine that slowly weaning myself off will just prolong this agony. I have been fortunate to be off work the last couple days as I have felt so terrible. Tomorrow is my first day back and I am praying I will be able to get out of bed in the morning. At least now, I realize what is happening to my body and that these symptoms are more common than I knew.
By the way, my father has been taking Effexor for about 8 months and it has worked wonders for him. I have never seen him more happy or relaxed. Thanks again for your help.
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