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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 21 of 21. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by emergingbutterfly on June 25, 2005, at 10:48:11
I have been on Effexor XR for almost 2 years. I've been titrating down for a month, per my doctor's recommendation. Tuesday night was my last dosage. By Wed. afternoon I was hit with a wave of dizziness that almost sent me home from work. Yesterday wasn't too much better. Today was worse yet. My headache was so bad that I had to leave work. Driving home was difficult. I couldn't move my eyeballs to look in the rearview mirror. Along with the extreme dizziness and headache I've also heard beeping in my ears and it feels like my brain is hit with electricity when this happens. I'm not sure, but I think it has something to do with eye movement. I'm experiencing nausea, crying a lot. I've had the runs since I started titrating down. I must be irritable because I wrote up one of my employees for the first time and another one asked if she'd done something to "tick me off". My doctor prescribed Butalbital/APAP for the headaches. I took one today when I got home. I think I'm going to like barbituates (just kidding). I went on the Effexor because of depression. My doctor told me there were "no side effects". I would hate to see what her definition of "side effects" might be.
Posted by SLS on June 25, 2005, at 12:03:49
In reply to Effexor Withdrawal, posted by emergingbutterfly on June 24, 2005, at 17:02:25
Are things getting better or getting worse?
- Scott
Posted by apenname on June 25, 2005, at 14:11:37
In reply to Effexor Withdrawal, posted by emergingbutterfly on June 24, 2005, at 17:02:25
I experienced the runs, the dizziness, and eye-scan problem. I thought the runs was my reaction to stress (which is a "normal" symptom for me). My doctor had me split my 37.5 mg pill and have half (18.75 mg) a day for a week. I ended up waiting until the dizziness kicked in until taking the half-dose. Once I got to 2 days without it before the dizziness hit, I went down to 1/4 pill (~9.4mg). When I stopped Effexor I wanted to change my life and take on the world and got increasingly upset when I couldn't do everything, much less anything at all with being dizzy. My therapist also pointed out that I'm learning how to deal with depression (or even just normal life's problems) without the extra help of the drug.
My advice: Don't drive when fighting dizziness. I've done what I can to avoid it, getting help from family and friends and taking public transport after almost hitting a bicyclist on my first day without medicine and with dizziness.
Other people on the boards (http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20050611/msgs/517178.html) have had success with vitamin combinations.
I've had some success as well with getting more exercise, and making sure not to skip meals or let myself get hungry or exhausted, although trying not to trade in an Effexor addiction for one of food.
I'm now down to 3 days without any Effexor XR, with a 9.25mg dose with me at all times should the dizziness return (I separated out 1/4 of the little "beads" and put them back into the capsule).
If what your doctor prescribed works, that's great! Good luck, and make sure to check for side effects from that.
Posted by rabble_rouser on June 25, 2005, at 21:32:59
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal, posted by apenname on June 25, 2005, at 14:11:37
hello
i have come off effexor 350mg in the past. HELL.
This time, have been taking a special set of vitamins that have removed ALL the side effects and i feel great.
If you want me to let u know what they are please email and ill let you know
rabble_rouser
Posted by apenname on June 25, 2005, at 21:49:01
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal, posted by rabble_rouser on June 25, 2005, at 21:32:59
Hopefully the link in my previous post shows the list of vitamins. I'm curious, rabble_rouser, were you on any of these vitamins before when you had trouble with the withdrawal? I'm thinking maybe my good old daily multivitamin has helped me not have symptoms until the last little bit, and even then, much much less than what others have posted.
Or maybe it's just the variation in reactions from different people.I do hope you don't feel like I'm disagreeing, I'm just curious and entertaining different perspectives.
Posted by rabble_rouser on June 26, 2005, at 9:32:10
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal, posted by apenname on June 25, 2005, at 21:49:01
Hi pen,
Thanks for your follow up.
Sorry I must have missed your original post - I did scan through for mention of vitamins before posting. There is an awful lot of information on this site which is brilliant, but its possible to miss good stuff!
There is definitely something to the vitamin theory. I was not taking any vits when I came off before, and in fact I would say I had a pretty poor diet at the time.
Glad to hear that you found something that worked for you! My posts aren't meant to be prescriptive - I guess I just don't like to hear of all these guys going through hell when there might be a solution.
Did you just take a multivit? It would be good to know what was in it, as this would work out to be a much cheaper option!
Blue skies
Ross
Posted by emergingbutterfly on June 26, 2005, at 18:55:23
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal, posted by SLS on June 25, 2005, at 12:03:49
Hi Scott,
Things are better and the same. It almost feels like hitting a brick wall. Yesterday I thought I could take on the world, I had about three good hours. Today, it's dizzy and (sorry) runs again. Tomorrow it's back to work. I hope I can focus. What's all this about vitamins? I've never taken any but I'm sure willing to try if it will help.
Posted by rabble_rouser on June 28, 2005, at 6:59:47
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal, posted by emergingbutterfly on June 26, 2005, at 18:55:23
Hi butterfly,
Glad to hear you are having good days in there - I admire your desire to get through it, thats the most important thing.
Read some of the posts by apenname and myself (rabble_rouser) about vitamins. I did write a great long essay (if you're on dial up then I apologise for the bill) in which I list all the vits I have found helpful. apenname has found a multivit that works, so this would work out cheaper.
This site http://www.naturalhealthweb.com/articles/esparza3.html talks about the possible benfits of some of the vitamins.
Here's to getting through it.
Blue skies
Ross (rabble_rouser)
Posted by tigs on June 28, 2005, at 17:19:42
In reply to Effexor Withdrawal, posted by emergingbutterfly on June 24, 2005, at 17:02:25
Hi.It is very sad, but such a relief to hear that so many people are experiencing such similar withdrawl symptoms. I have been on effexor for 18months . I suggested stepping down my dose at easter. I managed this within a week . The nausea, dizziness and dreadful night terrors...(being attacked by monsters) were fortunately short lived. After a week I felt mentally and emotionally vunerable. Gradually this feeling subsided/ or I got use to it!
Last Monday as I was about to take my 75 dose when I suddenly decided to kick the habit! I anticipated the physical withdral...I was not disappointed! Sunday I was feeling pleased with myself, I had survived cold turkey and all was going well.However,last night I felt a little subdued, and this morning woke feeling the same.Within 1 hour I was feeling weepy and as panic stricken as I have ever felt. The onset was so rapid.By 10 0 clock the dip was hitting suicidal level!I tried to contact my Dr but he was not available. Fortunately I had the company of friends and they realised I was in need of support .They stayed with me .By 2 o clock this afternoon I was fine and back to normallity..(perhaps the wrong choice of word!) But the amazing and scary thing was that the feelings came from no where and left so quickly! I have never experienced anything like this and dont know if this could be effexor withdrawl or if its an indication that I am not ready to come off them? I am frightened that this will happen again when no support is around. Is this a withdrawl symptom that any one else has experienced ? Any suggestion how I should handle this? I would be given confidence to continue if I thought this could be withdrawl!
Desperate! tigs
Posted by apenname on June 28, 2005, at 21:22:41
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal, posted by tigs on June 28, 2005, at 17:19:42
tigs: I had the same relief reading other withdrawal experiences, not only here, but seeing stuff listed on the effexor website and the prescribing pamphlet.
Quick depression drop: I've had it before being medicated and on Effexor XR, and most often, well, right when my period's about to start. I may have had it in Effexor XR withdrawl a couple years ago, but I'm not sure that was the cause, as I'd been off Effexor for a bit, but had ramped onto Lexapro, and then off of that, and then nothing for a horrible depressive week. (my memory's fuzzy on the details: I was pretty stressed at the time) I thought I couldn't live without anti-depressants, I didn't even think it might be withdrawal.
I'm real glad you had help from your friends, and that you managed to be able to let them know you needed it!
I personally am all for slowly decreasing the Effexor, as I'm rather protective of my brain, and I've realized I want be gentle to my neurochemistry. It's been tough to be patient, but I think it's worth it since I can be normal.
Check out the other threads, there's a lot of really good ideas that have worked for others here on Withdrawal: vitamins, Claritin, Prozac, exercise, etc.
Good luck!
Posted by tigs on June 29, 2005, at 3:25:16
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal » tigs, posted by apenname on June 28, 2005, at 21:22:41
Thanks apenname for your support and advice. The pre period comment is possibly relevent in my case. Something I had not considered,thanks.
I managed a reasonable sleep last night but am feeling weepy and low this morning. Having read some of the info on this site, I feel I should try not to panic and saty off the medication longer.I intend to look into the vitamin supplement suggestions and see how I go.
Today the metal shutters have gone up.I am back in my little box. I do not want to share my feelings with,or let the nearest and dearest in!!! "im fine, no problems thanks"...Ring any bells? This site is allowing me to share feelings that I cannot admit to anyone else! Thanks again!
I am telling myself, I am not alone, there are lots of us out there! I hope this gives relief to others experiencing similar feelings.lll deffinately be passing on experiences and remedies that I stumble across!
hugs tigs
Posted by SLS on June 29, 2005, at 7:19:43
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal » tigs, posted by apenname on June 28, 2005, at 21:22:41
Hi.
> I personally am all for slowly decreasing the Effexor, as I'm rather protective of my brain, and I've realized I want be gentle to my neurochemistry.
This is a great way to think about things.
- Scott
Posted by tigs on June 30, 2005, at 6:02:10
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal, posted by SLS on June 29, 2005, at 7:19:43
Scott- Thanks this is good advice. I wish I had known about tapering and vitamin supplements before I dropped my medication!
This is my tenth day without any medication. Today I feel strange and withdrawn.I thought I had got through the worst of the withdrawl once I had survived day 2 and 3 of cold turkey!I was fine for a 3 or 4 days then the second wave has struck.
Yesterday was bad! brain shivers, sudden pains , nausea. empty head feeling, totally withdrawn from the outside world.Wanted to run away and seek isolation- but the withdrawal came with me!!!
Do you think it is likely that the return of depression and sudden suicidal onsets have been propmted by such a dramatic withdrawl( 75 to 0)?
Although Iv been clear for 10 days should I be considering going back on a reduced dose and starting tapering? I feel I can cope with the cold turkey without the rebound depression. If returning to 75 and starting tapering would help prevent depression returning then Ill go for it!
Mmmm.....This should be a question to my Dr.?...no no no! my Dr said, you stay on it for life, or just stop!!!....nothing less than 75!!!i am doin this on my own!! or at least i was till I came across this site!
thanks tigs
Posted by rabble_rouser on June 30, 2005, at 6:54:58
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal, posted by tigs on June 28, 2005, at 17:19:42
Hey Tigs,
I cant say if it was one thing or the other, but I went cold Turkey from 300mg Effexor XR. I went through chronic paranoia, I nearly knocked my friend out, and got a rep for being a psycho in one week flat, so its very possible that the effexor withdrawal could have caused your swings.
Knowing when you are ready to come off - thats a different question. I had a CBT therapist at the time who I couldnt retain (he was too expensive :( ) and he felt I should stay on them as we had not completed the CBT therapy. I came off anyway. Within a month I felt the symptoms return.
Ive recently been doing a lot of psychological work, nailing my problems and BS beliefs, to stregthen myself from inside. I have found this massively helpful, and if you have only had drug therapy I would sincerely recommend looking into CBT or REBT - I found these very helpful. If not, there are many other systems out there. Have you looked at the Uplift Program? I am not religious, but if you are it might work for you.
Education is key - and good to hear you have a lovely group of friends to support you.
If you have the time, check my post "Effexor side effects and withdrawal - this could help"
Ross (rabble_rouser)
Posted by SLS on June 30, 2005, at 8:14:35
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal, posted by tigs on June 30, 2005, at 6:02:10
> Scott- Thanks this is good advice.
My advice is not always good or accurate, but thanks for the display of confidence in me.
> This is my tenth day without any medication. Today I feel strange and withdrawn. I thought I had got through the worst of the withdrawl once I had survived day 2 and 3 of cold turkey!I was fine for a 3 or 4 days then the second wave has struck.
> Yesterday was bad! brain shivers, sudden pains , nausea. empty head feeling, totally withdrawn from the outside world.Wanted to run away and seek isolation- but the withdrawal came with me!!!
> Do you think it is likely that the return of depression and sudden suicidal onsets have been propmted by such a dramatic withdrawl( 75 to 0)?
> Although Iv been clear for 10 days should I be considering going back on a reduced dose and starting tapering? I feel I can cope with the cold turkey without the rebound depression. If returning to 75 and starting tapering would help prevent depression returning then Ill go for it!
I know this is an unpalletable idea, but it is possible that your depression is not a rebound depression, but rather, a relapse. What prompted you to discontinue Effexor in the first place? Did it lose effectiveness? What would happen if you discovered that you still needed to take an antidepressant? Could you accept that idea?
If it were me, I would restart the drug. 75mg is as good a place to start as any. If it brings you out of depression, you can try again to discontinue it. If, upon a slower taper, the depression returns in the absence of withdrawal symptoms, I would consider it a sign that you do indeed need to continue with some sort of antidepressant therapy.
- Scott
Posted by apenname on June 30, 2005, at 9:04:03
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal, posted by tigs on June 30, 2005, at 6:02:10
I'm surprised at your doctor's opinion. When I told mine about my symptoms he said "I guess you are just one of those people that needs to drop the dose slower: take half a dose of 37.5mg."
I don't think I can explain how useless I think cold turkey is when you are fighting withdrawal: an opinion I've formed between trying to think about neurochemistry and medicine interactions scientifically, my own experiences with stopping Effexor XR, and reading other people's experiences. I've been trying over and over to come up with a way to write a post how I think that your being tough is great and wonderful but all you are doing is ... like trying to run up a hill that's being washed out from under you. You can be as tough as you like, but you're still not going to make it all the way up that hill unless you stop and try another method. Maybe that method is exercise, or vitamins, Claritin, or meditation. Maybe it's taking a smaller dose and seeing if it keeps the wave of symptoms away. And what's most important: keep you from falling into that deep dark suicidal pit.
I also want to give you credit for dealing with all the symptoms: it is a tough experience to go through, and way to go coming out of isolation to post!
The Effexor web page FAQ doesn't list depression specifically as a withdrawal side effect, but they list a number of things that I personally would confuse for depression while experiencing them or would cause me to be depressed.
As for fending off depression: Don't forget that there's normal life-is-a-pain depression that everybody out there has to deal with. I agree with rabble_rouser that it's a good idea to work on developing skills to deal with depression.
But I'm not a medical doctor, just a patient who's trying to be educated on what she found herself going through. Good luck!
-apenname
Posted by freezon4u on July 10, 2005, at 16:01:40
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal » tigs, posted by apenname on June 30, 2005, at 9:04:03
how long does the second wave last? i quit one week ago and have just been hit with a bad second wave of the brain jiggles...
Posted by tigs on July 12, 2005, at 19:10:36
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal, posted by freezon4u on July 10, 2005, at 16:01:40
Hi, Im back!Im feeling a different person! .Thanks to all of you who have posted messages of support and offered advice and sugestions. It helped to pull me through!
I was truly desperate when the second wave of withdrawl struck( for me around day7 ). By day 10 I could stand ti no longer! I packed my bag and left the family home,,,I needed brain space!! Any conversaton made my brain active and that was unbearable! i do not advocate following in my footsteps!! I was lucky and although I left home with out any ideas in my head I eventually found myself at my daughters student house!..She was at home for summer and the house was empty of people!luckily it was also a tip!!!! This was a bonus, I found I could clean , wash and tidy without brain use!!! I burried myself in the task of spring cleaning the house from top to bottom! I hardly eat , drank or selpt for 4 days!!! my back ached and I was exhausted!i did not allow my thoughts to wander or be active at all. The house gleamed!!!
After 4 days I felt a little hungry , the first caring sensation I had allowed myself to acknowledge ! By day 5 I was feeling so much better.. I dared to return home and although difficult and rather scary I began to care for myself.
2 days later I visited my dr. and filled him in on the weeks events. I told him about this web site qnd how helpful it had been;He was very caring and explained that although the drops of medication down to 75 he had said go for he felt that the last drop to nothing would have been better if id reduced slowly!
Any way the story so far is that I feel normal!! a feeling that I thought I would never expreience again!! The depression has subsidded, panics gone and the nasty brain pain a thing of the past! I am off effexor completely and am hoping to stay that way!
I know it is early days and if necessary would go back to effexor. I know that withdrawl can be overcome but it is very difficult and painful . Hang in there and empty your thoughts for a week or so and im sure you willcome out the otherside too.
good luck ! and thanks to every one for the support you gave me.
tigs
Posted by apenname on July 12, 2005, at 22:51:52
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal, posted by freezon4u on July 10, 2005, at 16:01:40
1) freezon4u: Second wave: Not a clue. I didn't let any wave last long enough to find out, took a small dose instead.
2) Yay tigs! I was wondering about you, and happy that you made it through.
3) In my own case, it's been almost two weeks since last tiny 5mg dose. Life went from high work stress to work travel and a meeting and more stress and then travel planning and this weekend is a funeral. None of it is easy, and I'm exhausted, but I'm dealing with it well enough and not afraid to start crying. (afraid of not being able to stop if I start).
So: withdrawal: success. post-withdrawal life off anti-depressant: not sure. I think I'd have to get through a whole year of ups and downs to be certain.
Posted by tigs on July 13, 2005, at 16:54:23
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal, posted by apenname on July 12, 2005, at 22:51:52
Hi,
Thanks apenname, nice to think you were wondering about me.Glad to hear you are managing to say antidepressent free and cope with what life is dealing you . It sounds rough.
I tend to be a little sceptical when I seem to be coping with stress....Sometimes,just when I think ive made it, I suffer back lash !!A little bit like 'happy to keep working and make it to a holiday week ,then spend holiday week ill in bed!'mmmm not fair!!!
Please stay strong and mentally prepared just incase., I would hate your stress to catch you out in a week or two!
HEY, Keep smiling tho, cos we made it this far! Bet you agree, its such a good feeling to get to the other side of withdrawl.... LETS HOPE ITS FOR A LONG TIME!!
best wishes
tigs
Posted by apenname on July 14, 2005, at 18:51:45
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal, posted by tigs on July 13, 2005, at 16:54:23
tigs: You have a good point about the stress backlash. I have a tendency when not dealing with stress + not taking care of myself to end up getting sick. My therapist seems to think there's a connection between how often I get sick and my mental health. That somehow getting sick is one of the ways I have of dealing with bad thoughts/feelings/stress and as I learn healthier ways I won't get sick as often. Getting sick sure got me out of all sorts of things I didn't want to deal with when I was little.
I can already feel a sore throat and have to make sure I get enough sleep otherwise I feel like I'm sure to catch something.
This is the end of the thread.
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