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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by mvenable on February 19, 2004, at 13:07:56
This is long, but please bear with me.
How long will this last???? Please someone let me know. I have been off effexor cold turkey for two weeks and I am so dizzy right now I think I might fall out of this chair. This has been going on for over two weeks, how much longer can I expect this s*%t to continue? I never would have quit cold turkey, but I had absolutely NO IDEA at all that this was going to happen.
I am a 27 year old mother of two. I had never taken an anti-depressent in my life until about 6 mos ago when I was given effexor to deal with some post partum anxiety and depression. (I was referred for a medical visit to a psychiatrist by my OB.) The only thing the bi*#@h said was, "Make sure you don't go out of town without this medicine." That was it. If I had any idea of what would happen with withdrawals, I would have NEVER taken this medicine!@
I've been feeling a little spaced out on effexor lately, so I decided I would let my prescription run out and ask my Primary Care Physician, (who I see regularly for polycystic ovarian syndrome) what I should do at my Feb 24th appt.
This was about two weeks ago, and I have been plunged into a living hell that will not stop. The saddest thing is until two days ago when I googled "Effexor Side Effects" I had no idea what was wrong. I had googled "inner ear infection" before because the spells of intense dizziness were (and still are) driving me crazy
Before I pieced all this together, I wrecked my truck and ran into a wall while carrying my 8 month old, leaving a huge knot on his head. This was all caused because of these sudden overwhelming dizzy spells I have been having.
I am nauseated all the time and have horrible headaches off and on. I am just really getting scared because it has been two weeks and IT IS NOT GETTING BETTER! I have tried dramamine and benadryl with little if any results.
How can a dr., who took an oath to do no harm, give you this drug and not say a word about the potential side effects, withdrawals????
How can government agencies who are supposed to protect us let a drug like this be on the market? Why don't we just sell crack and heroin legally????
Sorry to rant, but you just cannot comprehend how this has caught me offguard.
Any information, encouragement would be appreciated.
Posted by anxiety66me on February 19, 2004, at 13:17:15
In reply to Effexor Withdrawal Hell---Please Help Me!, posted by mvenable on February 19, 2004, at 13:07:56
You must gradually taper off this medication- as with any anti depressant. If you don't it can cause serious side effects. When you started taking it, didn't your doctor gradually move up your dose week by week? The same goes for getting off of it.
Say you were at 150; take 1 week at 150, the next week or two at 75 and a few weeks later maybe 34. That is what a doctor should tell you, anyways. When you are ready to stop medication you should tell your doc so that she/he can explain hot to do it.
Call your doctor immediately. You need to talk about this NOW. Don't wait any longer!! Good luck.
Posted by mvenable on February 19, 2004, at 14:34:59
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal Hell---Please Help Me!, posted by anxiety66me on February 19, 2004, at 13:17:15
thank you so much for your reply. As I said in my post, I didn't know anything at all about antidepressants until this saga started. Thanks so much for the information.
Posted by Bill LL on February 19, 2004, at 14:51:46
In reply to Effexor Withdrawal Hell---Please Help Me!, posted by mvenable on February 19, 2004, at 13:07:56
There are 2 things to do when weaning off of Effexor:
1) do it very gradually, and
2) take Prozac while you are weaning offCall your doc and ask him for at least 4 weeks worth of Prozac.
Posted by anxiety66me on February 19, 2004, at 16:21:39
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal Hell---Please Help Me!, posted by Bill LL on February 19, 2004, at 14:51:46
That's what we are here for. Anytime! Hope you feel better! =)
Posted by Racer on February 22, 2004, at 19:38:02
In reply to Effexor Withdrawal Hell---Please Help Me!, posted by mvenable on February 19, 2004, at 13:07:56
I didn't go off Effexor XR cold turkey, so don't know what to say about that. I do know that I experienced all that you're describing while tapering off it very, very slowly. I went from 225mgs down to none in just over 8 months, so you can get an idea of just how awful withdrawal from it can be. What's that? Oh, yeah, even tapering down that slowly caused major miserable side effects such as you describe, although not nearly as bad as the few times I missed a few days altogether. (My last pdoc wasn't real reliable about getting back to the pharmacy about refills... I'd run out for a few days because of that...)
The best I can tell you is that you really need to call your doctor and have someone else drive you there. At this point, I certainly think you've likely lived through most of the worst of it, so a week or so of prozac is likely to do more good than going back on Effexor in order to taper down.
It really and truly is awful, and I'm so sorry you're going through this. Good luck.
Posted by Psychopoppy on February 22, 2004, at 23:59:36
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal Hell---Please Help Me! » mvenable, posted by Racer on February 22, 2004, at 19:38:02
YOU are not the first and wont be the last to feel soooooo horrible getting off effexor.
Its one of the most recurring themes here on PB. I have read 100s of post with the words "Effexor, hell, help, urgent, shit" etc.. in them.
I was one of them about a month or so ago. My pure hell lasted about 2 weeks too. The intensity and duration of your hell with depend on the dose and duration of effexor for which you were on. Believe me, it will go away !It makes me (and many others) very mad that docs and drug cos. dont give a shit. My pdoc was totally blasse about it. It was as if it was a routine thing. I wished I could have had him on effexor. Most pdocs are crap in my opinion. they think they know so much...but in the end they really have no freakin clue. all they can do is write you a piece of paper for a chemical. there are exceptions...but not many.
it was hell on effexor and an even bigger hell off it.
Now ,I am free from its cluthces and feeling great about it !
Of course those who defend this drug will do so for good reason. It has helped many and in their case the benefits outweigh the hassles.
But it you can avoid it (in anyway possible) then stay away from this "poison". There are other poisons that are less poisonous and more helpful, if you really need anti-deps. I was totally new to anti-deps too when I started effexor. I was on it for 2 months before quiting.I dont know where you live...but really cold air helps with the nausea. You could try the One prozac pill too. Many say it helps. I didnt. Lots of sleep, lots of food and rest and not too much exertion. Those are what got me through. (and hope)
GOOD LUCK ! let us know when you feel better.
Posted by MADMAN3070 on February 24, 2004, at 10:18:16
In reply to Effexor Withdrawal Hell---Please Help Me!, posted by mvenable on February 19, 2004, at 13:07:56
I know what your going through. I have been off of Effexor for a month and I am still dizzy with nausea. I have heard it could last for up to 7 weeks. I have heard it called Discontiuation Syndrome. Ypu should look it up. I hope it wont last as long for you as for me. Hold on for dear life. Madman
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