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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 soul love on January 18, 2006, at 22:30:45
I've been on effexor for 18mths. Had fantastic results being on it. Reduced my dose from 150 to 75mg about 6 months ago had some withdrawal effects but only lasted a coupl of days. Then 3 weeks ago started weaning off the 75mg. Went down to 50 for a week then 25mg for a week then stopped. During those 2 weeks I had the sever headaches, tiredness, electric shocks, ringing ears etc.... Now all that has stopped. The first 2 days after stopping were fine then I had severe vomitting and nausea, agitation, restlessness, anxiety, tightness in my stomach, loss of appetite, tearfulness, lethargy, dif sleeping, inability to concentrate and even suicidal thoughts briefly. I haven't been able to go to work or look after the kids or drive either. Hate being alone. I'm on day 6 now and still have all of this apart from the vomitting and nausea. Dr has given me valium to help me through the next 6 days. I'm worried about getting addicted to these but they reduce the symptoms from a 10 down to a 6. How long will these feelings last?????
Posted by dancingstar on January 21, 2006, at 13:59:26
In reply to Effexor withdrawal, posted by soul love on January 18, 2006, at 22:30:45
Hang in there. It took me a long time, a full 16 months before I was pretty much as good as new...and I still can't run more than five minutes without getting a searing headache the next day.
My new doctor explained to me how Effexor caused so many problems for my body and why I should never have taken it, but at least I finally no longer have the searing pain and fatigue that I had every day of my life during the whole time that I took and stopped taking Effexor.
I've read a lot of posts from people that recover within anywhere from a week to three months. It's great that your doctor gave you Valium to help you through the rough spots. What a great idea! There were months that I could barely leave the house after I quit taking Effexor because the anxiety was so bad. It sounds like you are in good hands. I'm sorry that you are going through this.
There's no real way to say how long it's going to last, but I hope you are one of the lucky ones and that it is over for you very quickly.
Posted by benbetter on January 29, 2006, at 16:25:20
In reply to Effexor withdrawal, posted by soul love on January 18, 2006, at 22:30:45
Soul Love,
Are you still having a tough time? I would love to hear how it is going. Unless you dont want to discuss it.. I Am behind you a little and was hoping to gain some insight. Hope it is going well.
Thanks, Benbetter
Posted by soul love on January 29, 2006, at 16:30:24
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal, posted by benbetter on January 29, 2006, at 16:25:20
I am now 2 weeks and 3 days......doing heaps better thanks!!!! Still VERY tired...headaches....and my anxiety levels are certainly higher than normal....still have trouble concentrating...but the physical symptoms have settled hugely!! I think I'm at about 80%. I'm still very tearful too......but hard to know if thats all withdrawal or just not having the effexor in the system. I started taking a zinc, b6 and magnesium combination to try the natural way to get me through. I only took the valiun for 2 days and was so scared of getting hooked on anythign else I went off them....how are you going with it?
Posted by benbetter on January 31, 2006, at 10:33:10
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal, posted by soul love on January 29, 2006, at 16:30:24
Pysical affects still chewing the under side of the skull a little. not as bad as last week. No real ups or downs on the mental side.. I am a little more quick to say what is on my mind.. but over all I feel way better than week 1.
thanks for tthe up date.. I think it helps when you hear others lives were tough too.. but than get better.
More later
Benbetter
Posted by soul love on January 31, 2006, at 12:06:17
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal, posted by benbetter on January 31, 2006, at 10:33:10
I kow what you mean about being a bit quicker to say wahts on your mind! I've found that I have a shorter wick and get riled up a tlot faster....grumpy.....and the anxiety is just awful!!! The problem was I know this was some of the way I felt before the medication and I realise now how much it must have evened me out. Is this just part of the withdrawal....or am I going to be like this forever? Theres no way i ever wnat to go bakc onthe effexor cos the withdrawal is the worst thing I've ever gone through....... I'm pleased things are etting better for you....it does help to know there is comeone else going through the same thing! I would never have known abou the severity of the withdrawal and how common it was if it wasn't for this site.
Posted by Charles7 on February 9, 2006, at 20:31:24
In reply to Effexor withdrawal, posted by soul love on January 18, 2006, at 22:30:45
I was using Effexor for 4 years and have tried a couple times to get off it. Getting down to 37.5 was relatively straightforward, but it was impossible to cold-turkey the 37.5. The dizziness, nightmares and the head-rush when turning my head was too much. So, what I did was open the pills and remove 5 grains the first day, 10 the second, 15 the third, etc. There are approximately 230 grains per 37.5 pill (230/5 = 46 days) and now I am down to 75 grains (31 days into it, only 15 left!). So far I have NO bad symptoms. I will post again and let you know when I am down to zero. It takes patience to separate the grains and count them (I put the grains on a mouse pad and use a letter opener to separate and count them), but it is definitely worth it!
Posted by victoria D on March 21, 2006, at 16:28:55
In reply to Successful Effexor withdrawal, posted by Charles7 on February 9, 2006, at 20:31:24
Hello: Im new and this is my first post, I am weaning off Efexor XR and taking apart the capsules and reducing my dose by 10% each week, I'm terrified of getting the awful side effects I've been reading about, I'm on week 2 now with a 20% reduction and so far so good, a bit nauseaus, a bit emotional, but anything will be better than the constant cotton mouth I've had since starting these meds. I will admit though that in addition to working with some Cognitive Behaviour Therapy exercises the Effexor got me through a very nasty time. I only wish I'd had more info on how addictive they really were. My psychiatrist touted them as a wonder drug with no side effects and not addictive!
Posted by cerebus on March 28, 2006, at 11:32:51
In reply to Successful Effexor withdrawal, posted by Charles7 on February 9, 2006, at 20:31:24
This is the end of the thread.
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