Posted by SLS on March 26, 2005, at 8:32:19
In reply to Re: About the Effexor XR Withdrawal » SLS, posted by winddancer on March 25, 2005, at 19:37:58
Hi WD.
> You seem to have a more indepth knowledge about this drug and the specifics about the way the medicine works, etc. What is your training/background??
I'm a college drop-out. :-(
I couldn't complete my junior year. My depression became so severe, that I could no longer read, learn, and remember well enough to pass my classes. I was a 4.0 before things turned so foul on me.
Like almost every other knowledgable person here - and the majority are - I was forced to learn things at that point when my doctors ran out of ideas.
> I am currently doing reasonably well with spreading out my doses of Effexor.
I'm disappointed to hear that you are not doing better than "reasonably".
> I'm feeling very disorganized and a little anxious from that but I'm not sure if it's circumstantial or because of the withdrawal since it's been a long year
Do you feel nervous or jittery? Do your hands shake? Are you sweating? Mental confusion? Dizzy? These things can be signs of withdrawal. If so, don't try pushing the dosage of Effexor down too fast.
I hope these things disappear so that you can begin to reduce further.
Yes, the numbness and tingling can be the parasthesia associated with withdrawal.
Do you notice a lessening of these symptoms immediately after taking a dose of Effexor (30-60 minutes)? If so, it would be advisable to remain at the 37.5 for a bit longer. Get those 25mg tablets! 12.5 x 3 times a day = 37.5mg! Hopefully, you will reach a point of being symptom-free. I know it is difficult to differentiate how much anxiety is biological and how much is situational right now, but you shouldn't have shaking hands and paresthesias if they weren't present before attempting to reduce the Effexor. Once you get the 25mg tablets and cut them into quarters, you'll be able to more easily move downward. It might be the right move to next go to 5 quarters (31.25mg) divided into 3-4 doses during the day (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and 2 at bedtime).
In what ways do you feel Benadryl helps you?
I really don't like the idea that you are experiencing withdrawal at all.
If you are in doubt, you might consider taking the whole 37.5mg in the morning and see if the withdrawal symptoms disappear. If they do, then you have your answer. Of course, you will need to take some amount in the evening to prevent a more intense withdrawal from appearing the next day. It will then be up to you as to whether or not to continue at 37.5mg. If you had the 25mg tablets to work with, you could temporarily move up to 43.75mg and be comfortable. I realize how unlikely you are to do this, but it is what I would do if I had to function and found it difficult to do so. Then again, you might see withdrawal symptoms disappear within a couple of days if you continue 37.5mg. I really don't know.
Let's see how much more we can confuse WindDancer!
Do what your instincts tell you to do. Remember, you have the luxury of time if you do not have discontinue Effexor by a certain date. Use time to your advantage.
I am very much interested to see you get through this unscathed. I am a bit of an optimist. You shouldn't have to suffer. Please remain optimistic that your experience with Effexor discontinuation will be relatively painless. I wish I could guarantee this for you, but we both know that I can't. Try to be patient.
Have a nice day. See you soon.
:-)
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:469497
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20050323/msgs/475731.html