Posted by Jiggitykid on August 21, 2005, at 18:51:42 [reposted on August 22, 2005, at 21:50:57 | original URL]
In reply to Re: Horrible Effexor withdrawal symptoms!, posted by KellBell on August 21, 2005, at 15:39:09
I hate to tell you, but you're in it for a while. I've been effexor-free for nearly two glorious years :-), but it took weeks for me to feel anything near normal. The WORST symptoms, like the flu-like symptoms, were over in two to three weeks, but it was a couple of months before I felt my "real" self coming back. My vision never cleared up. I don't want to be a downer for you, but you need to know that this is normal for withdrawal, that you aren't crazy and most likely aren't sick. Of course, you could have the flu, but odds are it is the effexor. Your doctor probably won't know or won't tell you - most folks here got little or no help from physicians because most physicians were/are unaware of the withdrawal and others deny that it exists. My best advice to you is to read through the archives here (go back several years - there is a TON of info). You'll see how people who went through this before you were able to cope.
Please send any "important" people to this site, too, to have them read and understand what you are going through. You are going to need patience for a while, and they need to know that you are going to be like this for a while. Give yourself time. That's what it takes. I'll be praying for you!!
BTW, I went cold-turkey. Worked best for me with my personality. Tapering would never have worked. It seemed to stretch out the symptoms. However, I DO NOT endorse it, as it can cause quite a shock to your system. Some folks have taken a low dose of prozac, to ease the withdrawal symptoms, too.
> I have been going off Effexor for almost 3 weeks with the same symptoms. I thought I had the flu the other day they were so bad and I am tired all the time now. does anyone know how long they are supposed to last? I am slowly tapering but I dont want to have to deal with this the next 5-6 weeks.
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poster:Jiggitykid
thread:545388
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20050822/msgs/545389.html