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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by wad on December 11, 2005, at 17:31:21
I had been taking Effexor for close to 9 years prior to tapering completely off it over a 10 week period. I used the withdrawal plan spelled out in the "Road To Recovery" from Label Me Sane. The withdrawal went quite well with very few side effects. I have been off of Effexor for 3 weeks now, but the side effects are the worst they have been so far and seem to be getting worse. Brain zaps, headaches, body aches, unbalanced spells, irritability, etc. I don't know what to do next. I am discouraged and feeling angry about the whole medication thing. Any ideas?
Posted by psychopharmaddict on December 11, 2005, at 17:54:17
In reply to Effexor XR withdrawal, posted by wad on December 11, 2005, at 17:05:12
Hello, i just posted, before reading your post, and my post will probably be redirected, I forgot about the withdrawl board, but the entirety of my problem is sorta like yours. THE BRAIN ZAPS, and overall unconfortable feeling, nausea, and im sure your withrdrawls may be worse, because effexor i read is horrible compaired to lexapro, but im now thinking something, which i hope is not true. I have read in the past of SSRIS, or effexor, etc, drugs actually diminishing serotonin receptors. Similar to maybe what extacy does, but alot less, I hope.
Say, for example, and im just speculating, your target area of where the effexor hits on the serotonin neurons, has originally 30 receptors, but after taking effexor (or any other SSRI for long time), you end up with 10. (figures just examples) So now, you end up worse than beginning with, basically you have to stay on serotonin drugs for good. Unless a medical Neuroscience breakthrough is invented and a new drug comes about to get off these SSRIS and similar drugs.I hope this is not true. In my life, (im an addict), came off 3 drugs , which I thought were the worst horrible withdrawls anyone can experience. (GHB, OXYCONTIN , ALCOHL) Well, I got through it, and it seems SSRI drugs, which arent as powerful hitting at first, are like prolonged on and on slow type of torture. And all the bad publicity from ILLICID drugs, and then doctors give millions of scripts of SSRIS, to help one recover from say Opiates, then cause more damage, so in the end the person is feeling so bad, he goes back on more drugs , to feel better.
Well for example, i just took double my klonopin dose, and a little bit more suboxone, becuase im feeling terrible and cannot hack this feeling. So all in all, the drug which was given to me to help me cope with my addiction and depressiion just caused me to not releapse but take more of my medications to ease that medication withdrawl. My doctor, just says, oh it goes away. Well esp when its cutting into my other medications, actually i dont feel them working up to even average , because I took away this drug, I guess, i have to go back , and get more ssris, and stay on them for ever. Luckily they give sample packs.
Posted by Liz7711 on December 11, 2005, at 20:11:17
In reply to Effexor XR withdrawal, posted by wad on December 11, 2005, at 17:05:12
Hi. I took effexor for 2 years, cut back from 150 to 75 for 2 weeks with no problem, then stopped taking altogether--well of course I had a bad time, for 5 days until I decided to go back on. I have been taking about 18 mg. per day for the last5 days and feel good. I plan to taper down from here over the next months, a little at a time.
My question to you is, it sounds like you did it the slow way (how do I find this "Road to Recovery" you talked about)--and NOW you are all done, you started having withdrawals?? I just want to know what to expect, I was thinking if I go slow until i'm down to only 2 or 3 mg., then stop, I should be ok. Now from what you said i'm wondering if that's true.
Hope you are feeling better, please let us know. By the way, for the 5 days I was cold turkey, I didn't have the brain zaps at all, still haven't--just extremely sick, dizzy as h*** and couldnt' get out of bed.
Ok, take care!
Liz> I had been taking Effexor for close to 9 years prior to tapering completely off it over a 10 week period. I used the withdrawal plan spelled out in the "Road To Recovery" from Label Me Sane. The withdrawal went quite well with very few side effects. I have been off of Effexor for 3 weeks now, but the side effects are the worst they have been so far and seem to be getting worse. Brain zaps, headaches, body aches, unbalanced spells, irritability, etc. I don't know what to do next. I am discouraged and feeling angry about the whole medication thing. Any ideas?
Posted by NZgirl on December 11, 2005, at 22:40:17
In reply to Re: Effexor XR withdrawal, posted by Liz7711 on December 11, 2005, at 20:11:17
I can only comment on my own experience which has been the most horrendous thing I have ever had to endure! I was only on Effexor 75mg for 3 weeks but suffered unbearable side effects while taking it (nausea, vomiting, diareaha, excruciating headaches, chronic insomia) so I demanded my doctor take me off it.
It actually took me 4 weeks to get off the drug, reducing slowly, and experiencing awful withdrawal the entire time - severe nausea, dizzyness, aches, fatige, debilitating headaches etc.
When I finally stopped the drug about 2 1/2 weeks ago, I then started to experience intense emotional "episodes" - I cried uncontrollably for about 4 days - I literally couldnt stop crying - naturally I had to take even more time off work.
About 10 days after stopping Effexor altogehter I started feeling abit better - I still had the occassional headache, slight nausea, but generally very manageable. I thought it was nearly over - how wrong I was.
I have found that from day to day I am still suffering from periods of withdrawal - that painful "effexor headache", fatigue, emotional etc.
I dont know how long this lasts - but I thought I would post my experiences just in case it helps anyone out there.
I'm also very angry about the whole expereince, and I will be changing doctors. My doctors knew nothing about the withdrawal and treated me like a hypochondriac - I would love to see them going through this!
Posted by wad on December 13, 2005, at 10:04:53
In reply to Re: Effexor XR withdrawal, posted by Liz7711 on December 11, 2005, at 20:11:17
You can find out about " The Road Back: How To Get Off Drugs Safely" by James L. Harper at www.labelmesane.com. As I read and study more about withdrawal I think I made my mistake by not switching from the extended release form of the med to the tablet form. I hate to go back to my psychiatrist again, but I may have to so I can get a RX for tablets. I have completely lost trust in this man.
I developed hives not long after starting Effexor. He did not think the two were related. A few years ago I went to an allergist who wanted me to get off the Effexor before he would treat me. My psych went along with us and started me on a taper, but he didn't tell me what to expect. I thought I was going crazy and he quickly put me back on Effexor.
This time, when I tapered on my own, I new what to expect so I knew I wasn't going insane. I am always so disappointed when I realize that I place so much trust in professional people only to be betrayed by them. I do not think he is a bad person, but realize that he doesn't know as much as I gave him cedit for knowing.
So I guess I'll see about tapering from tablets.
Wayne
Posted by jgrl on February 1, 2006, at 22:48:05
In reply to Re: Effexor XR withdrawal » Liz7711, posted by wad on December 13, 2005, at 10:04:53
All of this withdrawal info really scares me. I recently decided to stop taking my anti'ds and never realized what I'd be up against. I've been taking effexor for just over a year (150mg/day) and just had my scrip reduced to 75mg. Today I've had the worst headache I've had in a long time and started feeling major anxiety. It freaked me out because it's only been a few days that I've been on 75mgs. I don't know what to do? I really hope that my receptors are still functioning on their own and not damaged from the meds. I don't want to be on anti-d's for the rest of my life. I wanted to stop because I feel like I can cope with everything on my own, now I'm questioning that. Part of my reason for wanting to be med free was due to the sexual side effects. I'm just barely in my 3o's and want to experience my peek...but the desire hasn't been what it normally was. I hate feeling like I'm dysfunctional in my own body. I deserve to experience sexual pleasure with my husband...but at what price? If the withdrawal symptoms are dibilitating, surely sex will be the last thought in my mind. I'm not sure what to do....I iwsh I would have looked into this before taking and tapering!
Posted by Liz7711 on February 2, 2006, at 7:38:29
In reply to Re: Effexor XR withdrawal, posted by jgrl on February 1, 2006, at 22:48:05
Hi Jgrl,
OK, don't panic. The thing with Effexor is that you have to taper off very slowly, and then you will be fine. I just recently finished tapering off after being on 150 for 2 years and I am having NO side effects. I learned the hard way--I went down to 75 as you did for 2 weeks (only I did not have any side effects from that), and then just stopped. I was sick as a dog for a week, dizzy as hell, so I went back on. Since I had been off for a whole week, I decided to go back on at 1/4 of the 75 mg. tab to see if I could handle that. I opened up the capsule and divided it into 4 parts--I think it was about 55 beads, and took them with yogurt, being sure not to chew the beads.
I took that amount for about 2 weeks, then would go down about 5 beads per week. When I was down to about 25 beads, I basically went down about 1 bead per day, just had the last one on Saturday.
It took me 2 months to taper down that way, but it's worth it--I had no side effects this way, other than some irritability which is to be expected.
You definitely CAN get off of this, and you should, just be patient. I believe from what I've read about other's experiences, that if you try to go off too quickly, you will have more side effects, and not only that, but they will persist after you have stopped. Some people have problems a year later! I think that the power of this drug in our bodies is such that it actually DAMAGES our brains to go cold turkey. That's my belief, so I urge people to go as slow as possible.
In your case, since you are having symptoms at 75 mg., I would take the 75, and split another 75 in half so you take about 100 for a couple weeks, then do the 75 for 2 weeks, then half of that for 2 weeks, half of that for 2 weeks, and then you can taper down like I did about 5 beads per week or so.
Good luck, hang in there.
p.s. the sex will definitely get better too! : )
Liz
> All of this withdrawal info really scares me. I recently decided to stop taking my anti'ds and never realized what I'd be up against. I've been taking effexor for just over a year (150mg/day) and just had my scrip reduced to 75mg. Today I've had the worst headache I've had in a long time and started feeling major anxiety. It freaked me out because it's only been a few days that I've been on 75mgs. I don't know what to do? I really hope that my receptors are still functioning on their own and not damaged from the meds. I don't want to be on anti-d's for the rest of my life. I wanted to stop because I feel like I can cope with everything on my own, now I'm questioning that. Part of my reason for wanting to be med free was due to the sexual side effects. I'm just barely in my 3o's and want to experience my peek...but the desire hasn't been what it normally was. I hate feeling like I'm dysfunctional in my own body. I deserve to experience sexual pleasure with my husband...but at what price? If the withdrawal symptoms are dibilitating, surely sex will be the last thought in my mind. I'm not sure what to do....I iwsh I would have looked into this before taking and tapering!
Posted by NZgirl on February 7, 2006, at 21:05:47
In reply to Re: Effexor XR withdrawal, posted by jgrl on February 1, 2006, at 22:48:05
With regards to sexual side effects - after a year on 150mg Nortryptiline and a few months on Effexor I had NO sex drive at all, and it was becoming a major problem in my relationship. Happy to report, that within 6 weeks of coming off all ADs that my sex drive came back full force.
Posted by MrsDelT on February 22, 2006, at 10:24:15
In reply to Re: Effexor XR withdrawal, posted by jgrl on February 1, 2006, at 22:48:05
Hi!
I have been on Effexor XR 75mg for almost two years now. I originally went on it because of major issues in my marriage, and the threat of divorce, that was leaving me very depressed and anxious. Since being on the medication, I feel much better. Things are going very well in my marriage (in addition to the Effexor for the depression, we went to marriage counseling) and I do not feel the least bit depressed.
I just found out that my insurance carrier is discontinuing this drug as a preferred medication and I either have to switch to something else, or pay regular price. I spoke to my doctor (not a pdoc, just my regular doctor who prescribes the RX) who suggested that I switch to Cymbalta (which is a preffered drug and covered by my insurance). I have been reading about all of the horrible withdrawal symptoms associated with coming off the Effexor and I am scared to death. I have had pretty good success with this RX. I have had a few mild side effects that include decreased sex drive, memory loss, and, of course, the "so called" brian zaps, during the course of taking this med. (That is the wierdest thing I have ever experienced.) The first time I experienced it was this past summer. My husband and I went to Vegas (my first time there) and in all the excitement and lack of a regular sleeping schedule (I take the pill before I go to bed), I did not take it for 4 days. By the end of the 4th day, I felt this undescribable whirlling in my head. I at first attributed it to the heat and lack of sleep, then I realized that it was mild withdrawal. I couldnt wait to take it so that I would feel better. Now, I only have to miss my dose by a few hours and I feel this "dizziness" in my head.
I dont really feel like I need to continue taking an anti-depressant, because I feel great. I am happier than I have been in years, my marriage is strong and wonderful (except in the sex department, because of my decreased labido)and I feel like I can handle my life without the pills. I have read the forums on the Cymbalta, and it sounds pretty similar to the Effexor XR. The same type of withdrawal symptoms with maybe a little mor intensity. Has anyone out there switched from Effexor XR to Cymbalta? What are your thoughts on me quitting the meds all together? Am I fooling myself into thinking that I got better on my own, or is it really just that the anti-depressant has actually helped me, and if I quit taking it, will I go back to being miserable? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks and good luck!
This is the end of the thread.
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