Posted by Cam W. on April 20, 2001, at 23:42:40
In reply to Cam? Anyone.... I'm curious, posted by Michele on April 20, 2001, at 20:07:37
Michele - If you were going to have withdrwal symptoms, they would have happened by now. Just a couple of questions to clarify the situation for others, though.
1) What dose of Effexor were you taking and how many times a day when you quit taking it?
2) Were you taking Effexor or Effexor XR?
3) What were you taking the Effexor for (eg depression, anxiety, neuropathic pain, etc.)?
4) How long had you been taking the Effexor?
5) Did you taper the dose or stop cold turkey?
6) Are you taking another antidepressant, mood stabilizer, antipsychotic, or antianxiety meds (or any other meds, including herbal) right now?
Really, the Effexor (&/or SSRI) withdrawl effects are not that bad in most people. Some people are hypersensitive to the changing serotonin levels in the body. Some people watch more closely for any differences. Some people have rebound relapses of anxiety or depression when stopping a serotonergic drug cold turkey. I have seen more people not have problems stopping Effexor, than have problems.
The Effexor withdrawl effects can start with 12 hours of a missed dose of a regular tablet or within 24 hours of an XR capsule. Sometimes it takes up to 2 to 3 days to get withdrawl effects, seldom longer. I have never seen it after 10 days (this is not to say that it hasn't happened, only that I have never heard of it or been convinced that if problems occur 2 weeks down the line that it is a true withdrawl syndrome). I have seen rebound depression and anxiety occur after a week or two. This generally builds over that 2 weeks and then a full relapse may be seen. Again, this is not a common occurance.
I should be able to answer your question with more authority and confidence after you answer the above questions.
CAVEAT - And no, I do not work for Wyeth-Ayerst, although I have given lectures on serotonergic withdrawl syndrome, the company has not paid me for giving these (although, in the face of the Effexor backlash, I believe that they at least owe me a dinner :-). I have given these lectures as part of my job with Mental Health Services and I am a licenced community pharmacist, as well. The opinions I give are my own and are based on my clinical experience and that of evidence-based medicine and peer-reviewed journals.
I hope that this is of some help. - Cam
poster:Cam W.
thread:60628
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010417/msgs/60644.html