Effexor Withdrawal Tips

About 9 months ago my psychiatrist put me on Effexor to control some physical symptoms I had of GAD (I dont know to this day if I actually had GAD or if they just couldn't find anything else to explain it). I was eventually at 150 mg of Effexor. My doctor warned me that it had a short half life and to be very regular about taking my dose. Of coarse though, every now and then I would miss my dose by about 5 hours and I already started feeling the electric shock sensations and kind of panicky. After about 3 months of being on Effexor and seeing no improvement in the physical symptoms I was taking it for (bounding heartbeat and pulse, insomnia, tremor) I decided to stop but i knew that stopping abruptly wouldn't work. I went to my doctor and got some sample packs with which to withdrawal gradually. For some reason he advised me to go from 150 to 75 mg for a week and then off completely. BIG MISTAKE on his part. 3 days into the 75 I felt horrible and remember I was out at a coffee house eating a sandwich and i was so weak I could barely chew. I could barely drive home because of the electric shocks and dizziness. Then the next day the depression set in and I stayed home from school because I couldn't function properly. I took 112.5 that morning and all was well and I continued down the later of a 37.5 mg/week withdrawal. All was well until I was at nothing. Then it was worse than the first time I went from 150 to 75. The shocks were back, I lost my ability to concentrate on anything. I was shaky, irritable. I would have a panic attack if anyone tried to comfort me, I just wanted to be alone,,, or dead. I called the doctor and told him I was in bad shape and he prescribed me xanax. For some people that helps, for me it did nothing. I finally went to sleep and the next day called him and told him the xanax didn't do a thing. Then he prescribed me ativan. Which for me was the life saver. It effectively got me through the acute withdrawal symptoms, by making me feel relaxed almost to the point of a small high. I took that once a day for about 2 weeks and then tapered off... it too had some small withdrawal symptoms. Up until about 2 months ago I would still notice long term withdrawal symptoms such as the occasional mild electric shock on the turn of my head. Sometimes I would feel dizzy for no apparent reason and just kind of dreamy. I am back to normal now,,, at least I think I am. I can't really remember exactly what I felt like before I started taking the menace, but I feel good now.
So you will get through it, just remember,,, VERY GRADUAL TAPER, and if the symptoms get really bad, I would recommend seeing if your doctor will prescribe you a fast acting benzodiazepine such as ativan.
THANKS WYETH!

Guest wrote:

Hi, I started weaning myself off 150mg/day in August by alternating 150mg with 75mg does. So 150,75,150,75, etc. Then once I no longer had the dizziness and "flu" like symptoms, I stepped it down to 75 every day. I then went to 75 Monday morning, followed by 75 tuesday evening, then 75 thursday morning, 75 friday evening, etc. I finally got down to 75 every third day and I have just done a week without it at all. The symptoms get milder and milder and I find that keeping myself really hydrated helps a lot.

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Very helpfull thank you

I was very recently placed on both effexor to help with post traumatic stress disorder I have suffered from being involved in the war in Iraq and also high blood pressure meds for a constant battle with hyper tension. Is it safe to be on a medication that will raise your blood pressure when you are trying to lower it. Also, I would rather deal with the depression in a natural way than to deal with the withdrawl symptoms I have read about on here. I'm only 2 weeks into tking the effexor, should I stop now?

To all that are getting off effexor, my heart goes out to you. I am a 36 year old Police Officer whose primary job is GANGS. I feel like a blubering idiot beacuse as i read some of your posts I began to cry uncontrolably. I have always been a very tough person and it is amazing that such a drug can reduce someone to what i have become over the past week. I too feel horrible and can now sympathize with IV drug users that try to kick meth or heroin. The key for me is knowing that my symptoms are a result of withdrawing from the drug. Take care and hang in there.

I started taking Effexor 3 years ago - first 37.5, then 75, and then my doctor added 20 mg. Prozac to my little 'cocktail'. After 3 years, of therapy and the medications, I tried going off the Prozac - with my doctors knowledge. Didn't work at all. The world was big and loud again, and I couldn't cope. Next, we decided to try going off effexor. that was a scary choice, because it had helped my fibromyalgia pain so much - I had been pain free all this time. Effexor and neurontin gave me that freedom - but the idea of being a walking pharmacy just lost its appeal, so...

So, first we stepped down to 37.5. Well, I am 3 days into it, day 1 - headache. Day two - in the bathroom all evening, and dizzy. Day 3 (today) felt like some kind of 'shock' in my leg. I mean, it felt like when you put your tongue on a battery (not that anyone ever does that...). I read on crazymeds.org all sorts of things that could happen - fortunately only some of them have. But, the ones that have, really have done so quite spectacularly1

Since the start of the withdrawal - weird dreams, very colorful, seeing things out of the corner of my eye that aren't really there, and sometimes sounds that aren' t really there. its very scary. Its like I'm suddenly just not quite in time with the rest of the world - can't tell if I'm faster or slower, but definitely I am out of sync. Its very strange.

I am not sure how long I will be on 37.5 before I go to 0 - but will for sure keep with the prozac. Im told it is supposed to help make for a softer landing. I hope so.

I just wish my tongue would stop this tingling, and these 'shock' sensations in my leg and sometimes face now would stop. Oh, and I have an exaggerated startle response . I know because my husband just dropped the remote control and I screamed.

The last post I read concluded: "Goodbye Effexor". I will be so glad to say the same thing. I was also glad to get the absolute relief it gave me, and the ability it gave me to get thru therapy, and get my life sorted out for the first time. Effexor saved my life - but now its time to get on with life without it. I'll probably be on the prozac for the rest of my life - and I think I'm ok with that.

I have been taking 75 mg. every other day trying to "wean " off and since I found out I was pregnant, I am not only sick from that, but dizzy with those electric shock feelings. When I weaned myself from 150 to 75 several months ago I felt AWFUL....could not stop crying, had to keep my eyes closed as I layed down on my stomach on the couch and just cried cried cried....seems like the second half of the day went better after I could get something in my stomach. Hydration does help too, but I just can't wait to be completely off the stuff...My heart goes out to everyone who has been through the same thing, and I too will never go on another antipdepressent...or recommend it to anyone....its just not natural. Finding a church or support group of friends is really what helps. PRAYING helps. Nothing else has seemed to get me through. And this withdrawal is totally not worth it.

I have been on Effexor 300 mg a day for the past 9 years and am ready to get off this stuff. I tried once before but couldn't stand the withdrawl symptoms. The therapist said, Well, then just stay on it! I have gained 50 lbs, can't lose weight and don't feel much better these days. If I am late with my dose just by a few hours, I start getting the brain shocks and feel very wierd. I was delayed in getting my prescription so the pharmacist let me buy 10 pills for $45.00! Ten pills!!! I can't afford this stuff anymore even with insurance. Has anyone ever gone to a pschy ward to get off this stuuf because I am afraid? I have read lots of good things here about dealing with this drug and agree it is like going off street drugs only worse! I could just cry now at the thought of it.
I can't imagine being on this for life. The bad things is that the MD's that prescribe the meds leave our facility and then no one follows up after that.

Thanks for the support here and I'll be back.

I am on day seven of withdrawl after being on antidepressant medication know as Effexor. I will NEVER again take any anitdepressants and will caution anyone who does. This is the most horrible thing I have ever gone through in my life. Worse than quitting smoking. Is anyone out there that is free from withdrawl pain? Please, I need to know about how long this will last. I need to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

When I read the post from newbie (posted 1/8/07), I could have been reading about me. The only diff is I went cold turkey! Was wondering if things got better in time for Disney?

I am not going cold turkey. Slowly with drawing and fell better already. I have a long way to go but I know it will be worth it!!!!!