Posted by Daisygirl on June 15, 2001, at 16:01:49
In reply to Re: JUST STARTED TAKING EFFEXOR XR, posted by ksc on June 13, 2001, at 9:13:21
>I took Effexor XR 75 mg for 3 1/2 months. I started w/ the 37.5 for one week then started the 75 mg after that 1st week. I decided to quit taking Effexor XR and decided to taper off med myself. I began with one 75 mg every other day. That went okay. Then I went down to 75 mg every three days. That is went the problems started. I have suffered from severe headaches that appear to be sinus headaches. I had an xray of sinus no blockage or fluid build up per doc. I had severe stomach pain which felt like someone was trying to ram their fist up in under my rib cage on the right side along with severe nausea. My doc sent me for an ultrasound (thinking it was my gallbladder). Ultrasound results no gallbladder problems. I also was very dizzy and had trouble with focusing in, light headed, my heart would feel like it was beating funny. I also would sleep till 10:00 am or 11:00 am easy, I have been on vacation this week thank God! I usually wake up at 6:00 regardless what day it is, my internal clock is messed up. To be totally honest, I thought I had some bad disease or cancer. I am not a hypocondriac, but I have been to the doctor more in the last 3 weeks than I have in the last 10 years. I stumbled onto this website a few days ago and was astonished to see that my symptoms are actually side effects of discontinuing this med. I am feeling the best today, still a little dizzy, lightheaded, tired. But I praise the Lord, I can function today. I have been unable to function the last 2 weeks. I have totally been off Effexor XR since Saturday, June 10, 2001. Please take extreme caution when discontinuing this med, I don't recommend Cold Turkey. You might talk to doc. Please let me know what you decided to do and what you experience on discontinuing Effexor XR. Good luck, God Bless. I give God all the glory for seeing me through this, without him I wouldn't have made it. I will be praying for you, please if you have trouble please give it to him, he will be there to take care of you. He sure has me.
Tanya,
> I'm calling my doc today to try and get off the XR. I've been on 113mg (37.5mg and 75.5mg) for about 8 months now and the sleep problems and exhaustion have gotten worse. I started taking for feelings of being overwhelmed. I was doing too much and doc thought it would help clear my head and slow me down. At first it really helped, I was having some vivid dreams, but nothing serious. About 5 months in, I became hypothyroid and needed medication for that. Within a month my thyroid was back inline but I started feeling worse to the point where the doc was diagnosing fibromyalgia (chronic fatigue with constant muscle pain and weakness). After seeing a specialist they seemed to think the thyroid meds contributed to the sleep problems after bringing my metabalism back in line, since I was so sluggish before it actually helped me sleep. Now I dream all night long and am unable to reach stage 4 REM sleep. It's exhausting, and my body has trouble rejuvenating itself.
>
> However, I'm a little nervous about the side effects of stopping the meds. Can anyone who's gone through this give me an idea of what types of side effects they incurred while quitting, so I know what to expect?!?
>
> Thanks,
> KC
poster:Daisygirl
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010612/msgs/66586.html