Effexor XR withdrawal

Hi, as with any other antidepressant I have problems with Effexor XR withdrawal. I feel anxiety, confusion, disrrhea, headaches and insomnia. My doctor decreased doses gradualy to avoid these unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, but I still suffer form them. Is there anything that can be done about this?

Hi, I also had many trouble when I tried to switch from Effexor to Zoloft. Many symptoms occurred like anorexia, dizziness, fatigue, headaches, nausea, nervousness, sensory disturbances and sweating. It’s said that you need to be prepared for the withdrawal symptoms of Effexor, but nobody expects such severe reaction. Even low dosage patients are not safe, because withdrawal symptoms develop regardless the dosage. Effexor withdrawal symptoms can easily last two months and in some people even more up to one year. Withdrawal symptoms can develop from missing only one dose, since it is shortly present in sufficient concentrations in the blood.

I quit taking Effexor Xr 2 months ago after being on it for about 15 months. Even though I followed the doctors orders, I still had major withdrawal symptoms. My biggest problem while taking them was EXTREME fatigue all the time, but others were not so evident until I quit taking the pill. Now two months later, I'm still having problems with staying awake. My doctor told me when I first got off of them that it would take a while for my brain to readjust to the levels of serotinon, but how long? I oversleep my alarm and am late for work and fall asleep at work and sometimes I doze while driving. I really need something, but I do not want to take anymore pills after being on Effexor. Please any help would be appreciate. Thank you.

I was on 150mg of Effexor XR for 15 months before I quit, 2 months ago. Even though, I weaned off just as my doctor advised, I was still miserable for a couple of weeks. The main reason I wanted off the pills was I did not feel depressed anymore and I could not stay awake no matter how hard I tried. Now two months later I am still havin trouble staying awake. I oversleep my alarm, fall asleep at work and sometimes doze at the wheel. The doctor told me I would have problems until my serotonin levels balanced out, but how long will it take? Is this even the pills? While I was on Effexor Xr. I spent close to $3000 on medical tests, visits, etc. trying to figure out why i couldn't stay awake. Solution Effexor XR.

this is the worst withdrawl sympton i have ever experienced, i am currently in a drug rehabilitation clinic in utah, i have been addicted to almost everything, and the withdrawls of all those drugs put together do not even come close to the pain of coming off of this "miracle medicine" i go throug these shock syndromes that feel like i am beeing electricuted from the inside out! i get dizzy and i start to see things, i have a headache and i feel stupid, my body sways while im standing and i cannot controll it, i burst in to tears and start to cry for no apperant reason, im only seventeen and this drug has ruind any chance i have at becoming truly clean. DO NOT START THIS MED! IT IS NOT WORTH IT PLEASE, I DO NOT WISH THIS ON ANYONE.

After 5 years of being on Effexor, I am finally off this drug. If I knew I would feel the way I do now, I would never have taken this drug. It did help me while being on it, but I am really going through a terrible time of withdrawal. I was weined from 150 to 75 to 37.5mg over a two week period. My last pill was three nights ago. I am so dizzy, also the shock feeling in my head and the nausea is terrible. I have been going to work and I hardly make it through the day. How long is this going to last??? When the doctor gets in his office today, you know I will be calling him. I was not told of the withdrawal symptoms I would be going through. Does anyone know how long this feeling is going to last?????

I am so glad that I am not the only one that has these problems with effexor. I thought i was going crazy when I tried to get off it! I could never explain properly to anyone that "shock" feeling you get. I have tried several times to ween myself off it without sucess. I just found out a few days ago that I am pregnant and I'm scared to death of the effects it will have on my child. But then again, I'm scared to go through the effects of not being on it and not being healthy enough for my baby to grow! There has got to be something that can help!!!

I went to the dr. today and i missed a dose of effexor yesterday and a couple last week i have been so sick and couldn't get out of bed i have 4 kids and could't even take care of them. i am still really sick i can't concentrate, i am dizzy, i am naussiated, i have been vomiting for 2 weeks straight, and everything is blurrry. it sucks i really hate this drug. please let me know if u find out how to get rid of the withdrawl symptoms.

Guest wrote:

I was on 150mg of Effexor XR for 15 months before I quit, 2 months ago. Even though, I weaned off just as my doctor advised, I was still miserable for a couple of weeks. The main reason I wanted off the pills was I did not feel depressed anymore and I could not stay awake no matter how hard I tried. Now two months later I am still havin trouble staying awake. I oversleep my alarm, fall asleep at work and sometimes doze at the wheel. The doctor told me I would have problems until my serotonin levels balanced out, but how long will it take? Is this even the pills? While I was on Effexor Xr. I spent close to $3000 on medical tests, visits, etc. trying to figure out why i couldn't stay awake. Solution Effexor XR.

sheely wrote:

Hi, as with any other antidepressant I have problems with Effexor XR withdrawal. I feel anxiety, confusion, disrrhea, headaches and insomnia. My doctor decreased doses gradualy to avoid these unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, but I still suffer form them. Is there anything that can be done about this?

As far as I can tell, once you start, you can't stop. The only people I know who actually quit, are raging drug addicts, and probably can't tell that the withdrawls are as bad as they are. I've been on effexor xr for 5 yrs now, street drug clean for 2 yrs, and tried to get off fxr 4 times. Each time I gradually weaned off, but the anxiety was too much to bear, along with all the regular symptoms. I guess if it works, don't go off it. I've gained a ton of weight, I have no sex drive, but I am not suicidal and I actually take pleasure in my little average life. On paper, this doesn't sound like a great existence, but it's leaps and bounds better than the torturous mind I used to live with. Sanity is a nice thing.

urbie dirbie wrote:

After 5 years of being on Effexor, I am finally off this drug. If I knew I would feel the way I do now, I would never have taken this drug. It did help me while being on it, but I am really going through a terrible time of withdrawal. I was weined from 150 to 75 to 37.5mg over a two week period. My last pill was three nights ago. I am so dizzy, also the shock feeling in my head and the nausea is terrible. I have been going to work and I hardly make it through the day. How long is this going to last??? When the doctor gets in his office today, you know I will be calling him. I was not told of the withdrawal symptoms I would be going through. Does anyone know how long this feeling is going to last?????

I weaned myself, opening the 37.5 capsules open, splitting them in half, then into thirds, over a one year period. After 3-4 weeks off, I would tailspin into my own mind, and go back on. I've done this 4 times now, over 5 years. Do you HAVE to go off it? If the drug helps, is it so bad? I can't get off it, but if you have success, tell me about it, I've given up hope on quitting it.