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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by mommyof2 on May 24, 2006, at 12:59:33
I'm a mother of 2 and have been on effexor for just over 3 years. It has made me a calmer person. I was stressed with a newborn and moving and always would get upset easily in the past, but when I went on effexor it changed me. I feel much calmer and more in control. I think its time for me to go off effexor and I'm scared like everyone else. Will it make me short tempered again? My life couldn't be happier. That's why I think it is the best time to come off the drug. What are the side effects of getting off effexor when someone has been on this drug for over 3 years?
Posted by B2chica on May 24, 2006, at 13:08:11
In reply to effexor, posted by mommyof2 on May 24, 2006, at 12:59:33
are you seeing a doc? are they aware that you are wanting to go off the drug?
i only ask because i do know that effexor has some wicked withdrawal effects. please use caution.
Do go off very slowly.
for more information on this check out the "withdrawal" boards here. i'd redirect you but not sure how to do that. maybe someone else can chime in here to help.good luck mommyof2
b2c
Posted by Phil on May 24, 2006, at 13:16:36
In reply to effexor, posted by mommyof2 on May 24, 2006, at 12:59:33
That's why I think it is the best time to come off the drug....
Just a word of caution. Many people feel better on their meds and think, "Geez, I'm so happy, time to get off the drug." That usually means the drug is very effectively working. I'm not saying to stay on the Effexor for life but I'd very carefully discuss stopping the drug with your pdoc.
I've made the mistake before.
Anyway, there are probably thousands of posts in the archives about the difficulty of stopping Effexor and what to expect as far as potential side effects. The key is to taper very, very slowly under the care of a psychiatrist.
I'm sure others can provide more info.Good luck and I'm glad things are well with you.
Phil
Posted by mommyof2 on May 24, 2006, at 13:26:42
In reply to effexor, posted by mommyof2 on May 24, 2006, at 12:59:33
Thank you both for your messsages. I don't have a doctor for myself here but I do where I used to live and see that doctor frequently. Told him I wanted to go off effexor and he said why? If its working for you, why go off them? I said I don't want to rely on drugs anymore. He understood and agreed to it. He gave me 3 months with 75mg and 3 months with 37.5mg. I haven't got the prescriptions filled yet. I have been waiting for the right time. I don't want to rely on these drugs anymore. I have never had suicidal thoughts just some depression but I have been great for a year now and I think its time. I feel in control more than ever. It only took me a few weeks to feel comfortable on effexor. I have never taken any other drug in my life, however I do have a thyroid deficiency, needing to take synthroid everyday, but I have been doing so since my teen years. I know that going off these drugs is the best thing for me to do. I have coverage for them but I feel like I can go on without them.
Does anyone know any long term side effects being on these drugs and then going off them? I don't think there has been any studies on this has there?
Posted by Colleen D. on May 24, 2006, at 18:30:03
In reply to Re: effexor, posted by mommyof2 on May 24, 2006, at 13:26:42
I went off Effexor after 2.5 years of doing well on it. I decided to go off it when I felt like it was losing its effectiveness. I went straight on to Lexapro after tapering for a few days and had no side effects from discontuation. I've read many times on this board that it is helpful to get a prescription of lose dose Prozac and take it while going off Effexor. Have you ver missed a dose and felt really horrible? I did that two times and it was the pits. So, my advice is the same...go off really slowly. You can even take apart the capsules and split the 37.5mg for another week or two at the end. I would STILL be on Effexor if it continued to make me feel so good. I felt my best ever on it for 2+ years and I wish I could find something else that worked that well for me. Sorry, but I think Effexor hasn't been around long enough to get the kind of info you're looking for.
Good luck,
Colleen
Single mom of 3!
Posted by mommyof2 on May 26, 2006, at 8:44:43
In reply to Re: effexor » mommyof2, posted by Colleen D. on May 24, 2006, at 18:30:03
Thank you Colleen for your email. I'm really appreciative of this website. It is helping me make this huge decision in my life. My family mean the world to me and I don't want to be barking at them while I come off Effexor. I am going to look into Prozac while coming of Effexor and also cutting back gradually on my dosage. Thank you again for your time.
Mommyof2
This is the end of the thread.
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