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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Maxine on April 10, 1999, at 9:08:10
In reply to Effexor Withdrawal, posted by Meggie on April 8, 1999, at 13:17:24
> I just stopped taking 150mg of Effexor XR yesterday and I am feeling horrible.... headache, nausea, dizziness... NO concentration... Psychosomatic or real? I really want to get off the drug and my doc said it was okay....
>
> Anyone else had this probl
Just this week my doctor switched me from 37.5 mg Effexor to Prozac at my request. I have been having ringing in my ears, dysfunctional nausea, achiness,and dizziness (actually flu-like symptoms). I thought it was the Prozac so I didn't take it yesterday. But maybe it is simply withdrawal from the Effexor. My doctor didn't advise me about any withdrawal.
Posted by CATHY on April 22, 1999, at 16:22:56
In reply to Effexor Withdrawal, posted by Meggie on April 8, 1999, at 13:17:24
> I just stopped taking 150mg of Effexor XR yesterday and I am feeling horrible.... headache, nausea, dizziness... NO concentration... Psychosomatic or real? I really want to get off the drug and my doc said it was okay....
>
> Anyone else had this problem?
Meggie read what I just wrote okay-and trust me it is REAL REAL!!!I am a recovering opiate addicted pharmacist who has been on Effexor, 300mg/day, about 3 years now. I have ran out before and felt very bizarre but was convinced by other professionals and my family that it was all in my head. My pharmacy "bible", lists nothing about these withdrawal effects, so I thought, "ok i am just nuts". Well this is my 3rd time of running out and now I know!!! I am going thru complete hell, which began about 2 days after my discontinuation. Remember I have been thru opiate w/d before so I know a bad withdrawal. This is a horrid withdrawal, different than that of opiates, but right up there, in other ways. My head is so messed up, and achey. I feel these bizarre feelings in my head about every 30 seconds, which I, even as a pharmacist, cannot find the correct term to label them. Is almost like a throbbing in my brain or a chill or a shock or something. Not painful, just annoying. But I do have headaches and nausea to boot. I have now been crying my eyes out for what, I dont know, but it has been like 8 hours now. I only sit in wait for my husband to return from work to take me to the Emergency Room, to beg for more of this drug or an antianxiety med or anything. This is my second day of feeling this and I cannot function at all. I want to hit my kids and I hate the world and I am so mad at Wyeth-Ayerst, the mfg, that I cannot see straight. Only I cannot find the proper web address to give them a peice of my mind about their lack of informing, us the customers, and the health professionals, as well. I was clueless to this, and so is my pharmacist I use now. I doubt the docs even know. But this is no joke, and it is not all in your head. This is a hell, a complete hell. If anyone who reads this knows how to contact the mfgr please email me or reply. As a pharmacist, and a patient, they need to know my views, as well as all of ours. I will write again to let you all know what i find out and if i manage to not have a break down thru this. Right now my friends and family think I am making this up. Right now, I feel more depressed than i did before i started this drug.
Posted by Sandra on April 4, 2000, at 10:23:22
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal, posted by saintjames on April 26, 1999, at 13:34:35
I have had a very positive experience with Effexor, as far as the depression goes. I've been taking 300 mg Effexor XR daily for three months. I can stand to miss one day with little effect. However, after missing two I get a tingly sensation inside my head and dizziness. I also get very detailed dreams during withdrawal. Earlier in my experience with Effexor, I missed three days in a row and on the third day I had continuous suicidal ideation although with no intent to carry it out. My doc says not stop the meds suddenly and many docs will have samples that they could give to get you through a day or two (or more) when you need it and can't get it any other way.
Posted by Cindy W on April 10, 2000, at 21:52:43
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal, posted by Elizabeth on April 9, 1999, at 7:05:20
I have been reading these horrible and extremely scary stories about the withdrawl symptons of Effexor. I was taking Wellbutrin for severe depression and Attention Deficit Disorder, but found I was still depressed. Wellbutrin really helped with the ADD though, and my doctor has switched me to Effextor telling me its effective on ADD as well as depression. Has anyone else with ADD been prescribed Effexor? I am very apprehensive about taking it now that I've read about the severe side effects and withdrawls. Do the pros of Effexor outway the cons for anyone? Please help!
Posted by Rick on April 28, 1999, at 2:31:52
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal, posted by Lindsey on April 29, 1999, at 11:55:30
Has anyone else with ADD been prescribed Effexor? I am very apprehensive about taking it now that I've read about the severe side effects and withdrawls. Do the pros of Effexor outway the cons for anyone? Please help!
James here...
Yes, read some of my other posts on Effexor.
j
Posted by Becca on June 7, 2000, at 13:00:19
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal, posted by CATHY on April 22, 1999, at 16:22:56
I have been on Effexor for over two years now. I don't think about stopping, I guess because of the horrible things that happened when I missed my medication. If I miss two days of medicine, I get these strange eye shocks, like my vision is just sliding out of my head. I also get achey, irritible, and sick to my stomach. I have been reading more and more about this medication and realize that there were no warnings because the drug has been used for such a short period of time. I have been on other medications, prozac, zoloft, paxil, welbutrin, selexa. None of these helped my depression. Effexor is working, with little side effect, some fatigue. If I ever wanted to quit taking it, I dont think I would make it through a week. Has anyone successfuly quit this drug? I cant find ANYONE who has!
I wish you all luck
Becca
Posted by Linnette on June 10, 2000, at 19:45:33
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal » Becca, posted by Linnette on June 10, 2000, at 19:45:33
There are a bizillion posts and replies on effexor. I am sure you can find what you are looking for in some of the previous posts on effexor. I have written about effexor many, many times so I will not go into detail. To some things up, I am on effexor and trazadone and I love the stuff. Good luck!
Posted by Amelia Gerlach on June 11, 2000, at 8:25:47
In reply to Effexor Withdrawal, posted by Meggie on April 8, 1999, at 13:17:24
> I just stopped taking 150mg of Effexor XR yesterday and I am feeling horrible.... headache, nausea, dizziness... NO concentration... Psychosomatic or real? I really want to get off the drug and my doc said it was okay....
>
> Anyone else had this problem?Hello, I have been taking Effexor for a few months and
have had good depression control. However, I do want to
quit it, because I just hate being on "drugs". A technique
I have come up with that works is I open up the capsules
and take out a few of the little balls every week. It's
tedious, but it really works. I promise that if you
take it really slowly, you won't feel any withdrawal
symptoms. Best of luck, Amelia.
Posted by Linnette on June 13, 2000, at 17:19:30
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal » Becca, posted by Linnette on June 10, 2000, at 19:45:33
> i have just started taking effexor XR and I really would like to know more about it if anyone has the time. my e-mail address is
> coerinice@telus.net
> My depression is something I have not experienced before. It is a result of a brain injury after a car accident I was in. i would really especially like to know if my dosage is not enough or too much. It is 75mg. I am also onPMS-trazadone and hopefully the two work ok together. So please if there is anything you can tell me if you wouldn't mind writing to me or just replying here I would appreciate it!
I just wantwd to erase my last entry and make a couple of chaneges but I guess I can't so I have. In one day I take 150mg. of effexor. 2 75mg. pills. So I just wondered about that or if people taking 150mg. were taking one pill or the same as I, or 2 150's. Thank-you again.
Posted by Sandie on June 20, 2000, at 11:35:37
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal, posted by Linnette on June 13, 2000, at 17:19:30
You all have helped me so much..sharing our experiences,good and bad, concerning Effexor....
I had been on Paxil for 2 years, and did not like the side effects...was switched to Effexor, approx. 1 year ago. and was very
pleased with how I felt. I had only been taking the 75mg. dose, seemed
to be working fine. But many of the reasons I was 'depressed' had been
resolved (menopause, 3 life traumas in a short time, etc.), that I had
been asking the Dr. to get me weaned off this stuff! He advised every other
day dosage, then no more pills.....I have been having so many lousy
symtoms....dizzy, shakes, SPACEY , ear-ringing, etc.
I am determined to tough it out, and get 'myself' back again, but I am very appreciative of
finding the info you all have shared. I am trying the opening the capsules, and diminishing the dosage that way...thanks so much....
good luck to you all, too.
Posted by Lorri on July 14, 2000, at 11:11:36
In reply to Effexor Withdrawal, posted by Meggie on April 8, 1999, at 13:17:24
> I stopped taking Effexor XR 2 weeks ago and was feeling
terrible...Brain 'jiggers', ringing in my ear, vomiting
and just an emotional mess. I had been on Paxil first
and then asked for a change due to weight gain. My
Dr put me on Effexor XR and I gained more weight.
2 1/2 weeks ago I began taking Herbalife and have
already lost 6 1/2 pounds. When I quit the Effexor
I felt terrible, and tried a product called Herbal
Aloe to cleanse my system..by the second day I had no
more withdrawal effects...the jiggers are gone, no more
ringing in my ears, etc. etc.
I was so excited, I decided to sell the product and
help others. If you are interested in trying it, please
give me a call at 888-852-7508
Posted by Lloyd on August 27, 2000, at 23:09:21
In reply to Effexor Withdrawal, posted by Meggie on April 8, 1999, at 13:17:24
> I just stopped taking 150mg of Effexor XR and I am feeling horrible.... headache, dizziness... NO concentration... I really want to get off the drug and my doc said it was okay....However I had to go back to level I was taking, in order to stop the symtoms.
>
> Anyone else had this problem?
Posted by dierdre on August 28, 2000, at 14:33:30
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal, posted by Wilkie on August 26, 2000, at 22:36:02
I know what you mean by trying to do without these damned AD's altogether. I've been taking Wellbutrin (200mgs a day) and 0.25 xanax at night.
All of a sudden am experiencing anxiety, so I cut down to 100 to 150 Wellbutrin a day and now need 3 times the xanax just to get through the day.
Once I get off this crap I'll never never use an antidepressant again
Posted by debbie r.c. on June 11, 2001, at 0:11:20
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal, posted by Lloyd on August 27, 2000, at 23:09:21
> > I just stopped taking 150mg of Effexor XR and I am feeling horrible.... headache, dizziness... NO concentration... I really want to get off the drug and my doc said it was okay....However I had to go back to level I was taking, in order to stop the symtoms.
> >
> > Anyone else had this problem?150 - none!!! day 5 with no effexor. i feel stupid, delirious, clumsy, totally out-of-it! i have diahrrea, headache, and i can't sleep enough! i could sleep all day and night! i have the most amazing vivid dreams and it's all driving me banannas! can anyone tell me when this will end? i hope soon and i also hope that all of y'all are doing much better. thank you for your time. debbie
Posted by Amelia on June 11, 2001, at 6:15:51
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal, posted by debbie r.c. on June 11, 2001, at 0:11:20
Debbie: Excuse me for saying this, but that was CRAZY!!!! I'm surprised your doctor didn't tell you how to quit Effexor. You have to do it very, very slowly and gradually. I did it successfully last year, though I chose to start up again. What I did was to open the capsules and take out about 5 little grains every few days. Very tedious, but it works! I hardly had any withdrawal symptoms. If you want to know more, e-mail me privately. Best of luck to you. Amelia.
> > > I just stopped taking 150mg of Effexor XR and I am feeling horrible.... headache, dizziness... NO concentration... I really want to get off the drug and my doc said it was okay....However I had to go back to level I was taking, in order to stop the symtoms.
> > >
> > > Anyone else had this problem?
>
> 150 - none!!! day 5 with no effexor. i feel stupid, delirious, clumsy, totally out-of-it! i have diahrrea, headache, and i can't sleep enough! i could sleep all day and night! i have the most amazing vivid dreams and it's all driving me banannas! can anyone tell me when this will end? i hope soon and i also hope that all of y'all are doing much better. thank you for your time. debbie
This is the end of the thread.
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