Posted by SLS on May 21, 2005, at 8:17:14
In reply to Effexor XR Withdrawl Hell, posted by TO_Girl on May 20, 2005, at 21:13:28
> I've been on Effexor XR at 250mg for about 2 1/2 years in combination with Wellbutrin SR at 150mg.
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> To prepare for a "new cocktail" as my dr and psychotherapist like to call it, I had to stop taking the Effexor. Over the course of 7 days I went from the 250 to 0 but am still on the Wellbutrin. This is absolute physical hell!
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> I'm a very active person and for the past 72 hours I can barely get up out of a chair without feeling that "falling" sensation. This sensation keeps happening with increasing frequency - esp. when I move my eyes left or right. The zzz zzz noises just started this morning and are now exceptionally loud. I'm also experiencing chills this evening.
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> My drs said that if I feel any "neurological" effects, I should go to the emergency room right away...what would that do other than waste umpteen hours of time...time I could be at home feeling the same way. (in Ontario the wait time in emerg rooms for non critical could be up to 5 hours on a "good night").
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> What can I do to ease these symptoms on my own? Suggestions please!!
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> Thanks - next time I won't be so wordy :o)
Would you be willing to reintroduce the Effexor and taper at a slower and more effective rate? Sometimes, the withdrawal symptoms get worse instead of better after discontinuing this drug. I would either restart the drug or cross-over to Prozac temporarily and wean off that drug. It is a much smoother ride. You need to be clear with yourself what you are willing to do. If you do not elect to restart an SRI, you can try using Benadryl to lessen some of the symptoms.If it were me, I would restart the Effexor and continue to taper unless perhaps the new drug is to be another SRI. Even then, I would work with the doctor to set up a cross-taper between decreasing the Effexor and beginning the new drug.
It would be guess-work to determine what dosage to restart the Effexor at, but you might want to try 75mg taken in divided dosages.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:500631
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20050519/msgs/500701.html