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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sassyjenw on June 13, 2004, at 23:51:45
I started taking Effexor 6 years ago for panic attacks after my mother passed away. It didn't get rid of my problem, but last year, therapy finally did. Since I was able to finally stop the panic attacks, I decided to stop Effexor. I have been tapering down from a 150 mg dose for two months now, and am past the brain shiver phase, which is great. (Because those are living hell). But now I feel like I'm living one giant panic attack. I feel nauseated and jittery and shaky during all my waking hours, I can't work, I can't even hang out with friends because I feel too sick, and I am wondering if anyone else has had this problem. If so, how long did it last? I feel worse now than the initial problems I was having that led me to start Effexor in the first place. Is it possible to actually get off this stuff?
Posted by Buckeye Fan on June 14, 2004, at 7:37:48
In reply to Effexor Discontinuation--rebound anxiety panic, posted by sassyjenw on June 13, 2004, at 23:51:45
Dear Sassyjenw,
You are experiencing the "normal" after effects
of Effexor use. As a matter of fact...it is quite common that after stopping ANY Medication for depression/anxiety that two things cam happen
Number 1...the dreaded REBOUND effectYour Original symptoms that the medicine has covered up, now returns...sometimes with a greater intensity that the original condition!
This is normal and will pass hang in there!Number 2...if the original condition for which
Effexor was prescribed ( I know it was a death in the family) was there all along ..that is called an underlying condition. They are with is, and usually "triggered" by a major life "stressor"
In your case...death of a family member.
Sometimes it is loss of job, break-up of a marraige, severe financial problems..ANYTHING that is upsetting enough, can bring about Anxiety
and Depression in some of us.Maybe..if you still feel this bad after another month...perhaps think about trying Zoloft.
It worked far better for me than Effexor.
Keep in mind that every medication has its own
properties that will react differently in your system than someones elses...so in many cases it is trial and error.Drug free is of course the preferred state we would all LIKE to live in ...but unfortunately
that is not real-world.So if after another 30 days or so you still feel
terrible...try something new. At least you should know by then, for sure that the effects of Effexor withdrawl are lessoned or gone completely.
I am in week 2 of complete Effexor free..and it is hell. But I do see a light at the end of the tunnel. The after effects are slowly lessoning.I know I am biased, but I wouldnt recommend Effexor to anyone, unless no other choice was available. Especially if anxiety is part of your illness...Effexor, in my opinion handles the depression, but you always feel "edgy" and a little too wired.
just my opinion...keep us posted
God bless
Buckeye Fan
Posted by Buckeye Fan on June 15, 2004, at 17:45:05
In reply to Effexor Discontinuation--rebound anxiety panic, posted by sassyjenw on June 13, 2004, at 23:51:45
I have a favor to ask...
since we both are in the withdrawl phase of Effexor....Id like to know periodically how you are doing....today for instance with me ( June 15)
I am in day 3 of a seemingly increasing, low to moderate depressed state.As I stated in another post..this is NOT like me.
I never got depressed before taking Anti-depressants. Anxiety and Panic have always been my enemies.So if you get the urge ...just post whenever you feel like it, and let me know how you are doing...maybe we can compare symptoms and give some advice that has helped the other.
Buckeye Fan
PS...This goes for anyone else also who is trying to withdrawl from Effexor or other Anti- depressants...more than happy to respond to anyone who is half way civil and sincere.
Posted by sassyjenw on June 15, 2004, at 18:21:25
In reply to Re: Effexor Discontinuation--rebound anxiety panic, posted by Buckeye Fan on June 15, 2004, at 17:45:05
Sure thing. Well, I feel horrible. In fact, I was surfing around and realized that I may have tapered too fast from 17 mg down to virutally nothing, so I opened up a pill and counted the little beads inside to determine that approximately two beads equals one milligram. So then I opened up all the pills I had left and dumped all the beads together into a bowl. I then put reduced doses back into the gel caps in amounts of 10 mg for seven days, 7.5 mg for seven days, 5 mg for seven days, and 2.5 mg for seven days. I plan to taper on this schedule and see if that helps. But so far, I've been back on 10 mg for two days, and I still feel awful. Not feeling so depressed anymore finally, but I do feel extremely nauseated, am having diarrhea, feel feverish and shaky. I just feel sick.
I had severe problems with depression after I got below 37.5 mg. I was actually suicidal, and like you, I have never had problems with depression like that in my life. It scared me. That's when I called my doctor, who advised me to open up the capsules and taper more slowly.
I felt severely depressed while tapering off for about a month, but am past that now, so it does go away. However, while I was depressed, I did not experience any symptoms of anxiety, and also did not have any physical discomfort. I have both severe anxiety and flu-like symptoms now, but I don't feel depressed, which is a blessing.
I am going to try some supplements I found online called bcalmed which consist of a mixture of things like b vitamins and such that are supposed to help with anxiety.Are you doing anything besides just waiting it out? According to what I am reading, it could take up to 7 weeks or more to get rid of these symptoms, and I just don't have that kind of time!
Posted by Buckeye Fan on June 17, 2004, at 0:12:51
In reply to Re: Effexor Discontinuation--rebound anxiety panic, posted by sassyjenw on June 15, 2004, at 18:21:25
Yes I have heard of BCALM, havent tried it yet
but heard and read good things about it.Interesting....I too have not experience any Anxiety attacks since discontinuing my Effexor.
I am still struggling with depression...but not Panic attacks.You seem to say in your post that after the depression, your anxiety, flu like sypmtoms, etc..
retured...so I am wondering if I have that to look forward to.. lol!~I have had the urge to retake the Effexor again
just to relieve the depression...but Its just not worth it to me, Ive gone this long...so IF I go "back on" anything..it would be Zoloft...
but as I said I want to stay drug free.
( except for Xanax...which probabley explains no Panic attacks fo me.)Im taking my family on Vacation to the Beach in about 2 months...so I am already wondering what (if anything) I should plan to do...drug wise.
The last time ( about 5 years ago) I left Ohio without being on any anti-depressants, I suffered
anxiety, panic..and terrible agoraphobia.Then when my MD talked me into trying Zoloft...
I was able to enjoy Vacation and life in general
without any symptoms of any kind!Well anyways...you hang in ther..keep me posted
and I hope you feel better.
If I have any success with Multivitamin therapy, I will let you know,
My mainstay of fighting this withdrawl so far has
been hard exercise daily and trying to stay busy.Talk to you later
Buckeye Fan
Posted by Buckeye Fan on June 18, 2004, at 7:54:46
In reply to Re: Effexor Discontinuation--rebound anxiety panic, posted by Buckeye Fan on June 17, 2004, at 0:12:51
How's it going? Still hanging in there?
I am having a "mixed week"...concerning withdrawl
from Effexor.Some days are better than others.
How bout you?I can definetely tell I am still in withdrawl
because I NEVER have been depressed at night..until now.
Not everynight either...which is kinda strange.Some days are depressing...sometimes (like today)
are ok,.,even good!!!!!I have a little "brain shiver" every now and then...I am still "edgy"....I have found Benedryl
to really help with its calming effects...especially if I go 2 or 3 days without it..then reintroduce it into my system, I sleep like a baby! LOL!Focusing is still a little tough...but getting better, anf Im STILL higly sensitive to noise, bright lights,and my stress tolerance is low.
So thats my latest update...how are you?
Buckeye Fan
Posted by annesand on July 12, 2004, at 8:50:53
In reply to Re: Effexor Discontinuation--rebound anxiety panic, posted by Buckeye Fan on June 15, 2004, at 17:45:05
Hi there. I tapered off of Effexor, and took my last partial dose in early April. I am done with the brain zaps and other physical symptoms, but still feel like crying half the time, and panicky at other times. How are you doing emotionally? I'm not sure how long to give this before I decide it's real depression and not a rebound effect.
Posted by sassyjenw on July 12, 2004, at 19:13:45
In reply to Re: Effexor Discontinuation--rebound anxiety panic, posted by annesand on July 12, 2004, at 8:50:53
> Hi there. I tapered off of Effexor, and took my last partial dose in early April. I am done with the brain zaps and other physical symptoms, but still feel like crying half the time, and panicky at other times. How are you doing emotionally? I'm not sure how long to give this before I decide it's real depression and not a rebound effect.
Hi--yeah, the same happened to me. I didn't know how long to give it either. I guess I gave it about a month before I just couldn't stand it anymore. I was physically sick from panic attacks and anxiety, and I didn't feel like there was anything worth living for. I was thinking about suicide all the time--and there was no logical reason for it. Objectively, I have a great and exciting life. But I just absolutely could not bring my feelings and nervousness inline with my objective thoughts. So I went back onto Effexor three days ago to regain some sanity until I can see a specialist. I am going to go see a psychopharmacologist to get a professional opinion about what is really going on here. I'll let you know what he says.
From the reading I've done, SSRIs and SNRIs actually inhibit your brain's ability to produce seratonin after you stop drug therapy because, as serotonin re-uptake is inihibited, your brain gets in the habit of producing less and less serotonin. So, if the levels were low before the drug, after the drug they're really low. I have been on Effexor so long that I am afraid I may never get that ability back. But I don't know that for sure, which is why I am going to go see a specialist.
So yeah. I am not sure what is rebound and what is real, and what will cure itself and what won't yet. If there's anyone else out there who knows, I'd love to hear from you.
Posted by annesand on July 13, 2004, at 7:18:20
In reply to Re: Effexor Discontinuation--rebound anxiety panic, posted by sassyjenw on July 12, 2004, at 19:13:45
Thanks for answering. I would be very interested to hear what you find out from the psychopharmacologist. Sure wish I had known about this risk before I went on Effexor.
Posted by annesand on July 13, 2004, at 7:35:42
In reply to Re: Effexor Discontinuation--rebound anxiety panic, posted by sassyjenw on July 12, 2004, at 19:13:45
Oh, and would you mind pointing me toward some of the things you have read on this subject? I just put my 14-year old daughter on Prozac, and I am terrified that for short term gain I am wrecking the rest of her life!
Posted by sassyjenw on July 13, 2004, at 10:41:41
In reply to Re: Effexor Discontinuation--rebound anxiety panic, posted by annesand on July 13, 2004, at 7:18:20
Sure. Well, of course, who knows if anything one reads on the Internet is true or not, but here are some of the things I've read:
http://www.prozactruth.com is an interesting site, although slightly on the alarmist side. There is so much information on it you could spend hours synthesizing it all.
Here is information on Serotonin discontinuation syndrome, which can apparently be alleviated with Prozac: http://www.biopsychiatry.com/ssridiscon.htm
I visit the psychopharmacologist on the 21st. Will let you know how it goes.
Posted by annesand on July 13, 2004, at 10:57:25
In reply to Re: Effexor Discontinuation--rebound anxiety panic, posted by sassyjenw on July 13, 2004, at 10:41:41
Thank you. I really appreciate it.
Posted by cpallen79 on July 13, 2004, at 12:08:52
In reply to Re: Effexor Discontinuation--rebound anxiety panic, posted by annesand on July 12, 2004, at 8:50:53
I went through the exact same thing when I tapered off of Effexor XR! The rebound symptoms were horrible horrible horrible, worse than my original problems, I couldn't handle anything! I always suggest(I'm not a doc of course) to never stop taking effexor without not moving on to something else for awhile, THEN if you want to go med free, taper that way. For example, my brother took Effexor for a couple of years, and then switched over to lexapro for 6 months, before tapering off completely. He is not on an SSRI anymore, and has been off of them nearly a year now (and is fine I might add from my understanding). If he ever wants to go back on them, he knows what works with tapering, I on the other hand, learned the hard way!
Posted by sassyjenw on July 13, 2004, at 12:34:33
In reply to Re: Effexor Discontinuation--rebound anxiety panic, posted by cpallen79 on July 13, 2004, at 12:08:52
> I went through the exact same thing when I tapered off of Effexor XR! The rebound symptoms were horrible horrible horrible, worse than my original problems, I couldn't handle anything! I always suggest(I'm not a doc of course) to never stop taking effexor without not moving on to something else for awhile, THEN if you want to go med free, taper that way. For example, my brother took Effexor for a couple of years, and then switched over to lexapro for 6 months, before tapering off completely. He is not on an SSRI anymore, and has been off of them nearly a year now (and is fine I might add from my understanding). If he ever wants to go back on them, he knows what works with tapering, I on the other hand, learned the hard way!
This is what I think I am going to have to do. How long did your rebound symptoms last?
Posted by cpallen79 on July 13, 2004, at 22:54:12
In reply to Re: Effexor Discontinuation--rebound anxiety panic » cpallen79, posted by sassyjenw on July 13, 2004, at 12:34:33
It's hard to say, I put up with it for months, then again I ended up sliding into depression because I was at a low point, so that probably isn't indicative of everyone's experience. Perhaps you could try going on another medication for awhiel to smooth things over? hopefully that would help you out.
This is the end of the thread.
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