Reducing Effexor Withdrawal Symptoms

angiel_02 · Newbie Joined: 13 Jul 2008 Posts: 1

I have been on 450 mg of Effexor XR daily for over 7 years. I recently asked my docter about what medicine changes I would need to make if I got pregnant. As I suspected, he said I would have to switch from Effexor to something like prozac (which didn't help in the past). I know from experiance that stoping the effexor cold is horrible. I can relate to the other posts reporting shock like sensations in the chest and head.

Before reading this site, I thought that weaning off effexor would be easy as long as I took my time, but now I'm wondering how much time this will actually take! I have worked with my doctor to try to reduce my dose in the past, but I stoped trying when I felt the withdrawl symptoms.

roseofafrica · Newbie Joined: 13 Jul 2008 Posts: 1 Location: australia

Hi ALL,

This is my first post here, i have been searching for somewhere that can help me get off this medication, that yes made live liveablefor me but has not reached a point where it fully controls my life, my relationhips, my ability and energy.

I am a mother of 8, soon to be 9 , as im 4 and half months pregnant, I been on efexor as an alternative to Serzone, since 2001. i was originally diagnosed with Post Natal Depression.

I have not ben depressed for 3 years at least but can't get off Efexor because of the withdrawal.

I have the worst mood swings, nightmares, anxiety attacks and if i take it at 150 mg i feel so so so numb, no feelings at all, cant cry, dont feel love, nor hate, or anything in between, that lack of feelings towrds ppl and life and lack of energy or enthusiasm for life ha cost me dearly and my poor wonderful husband wonders about me sometimes, although he refuses to accept its the meds.

I want to begin getting off but i really need help and support, i live in africa away from extended family and friends, not in the west so theres no access to up date pysch's. please give me some advice, im desperate.

ROSE

Guest · Guest

Hello everyone! To everyone who thinks you can not get OFF effexor...you can! First, let me say, effexor saved my life during a time when I was really down. Not only was I peri-menopause, but both my son and daughter had left home for college. I was so proud in one moment and bawling my eyes out the next. I took effexor - 75mg - for 7 months. Yes, it helped greatly. However, in that 7 months I gained 20 pounds, never shed a tear, had no sex drive, and was basically emotionally - DEAD! I was neither happy or sad! Simply did not matter. I functioned! It was to the point that I knew I wanted to regain simple emotions. I wanted to smile...I wanted to cry....when I wanted to.....not because a drug would not let me. I also missed the feelings of affection for my husband of 27 years that I had always had.

I began my tapering off with 75mg one day, skip, 75 mg, skip, skip, 75 mg, skip, skip, skip....Anyway, to make a long story short....on a Saturday I took my last effexor and felt fine until Wednesday.....then woke with a great case of vertigo. Took anti-vert and stayed home from work that day and by the next day I was back at work with NO problems. It is now Friday night and I have spent the night cooking out on the grill with my husband, looking at the stars......and smiling, laughing, and crying!!! Foe God's sake all of you...there is NOTHING wrong with shedding a tear.....I NOW shed tears for BOTH happiness and sorrow....and appreciate it! Is life perfect...no.....but I will...God willing....wake up in the morning and walk outside and look into the beautiful sun rising.....and thank God he has walked this journey with me.

EmmaFrost · Newbie Joined: 10 Aug 2008 Posts: 4

I thought it said "Effexor Withdrawal TRIPS".... that made me laugh, because that is the perfect description of it, if you ask me.
But BAD TRIPS!!

janecritch · Newbie Joined: 14 Aug 2008 Posts: 1

Thankyou, thankyou to you all............

After coming off 75mg to 37.5 without any great problems, thought 37.5 to 0 would be fine.

Wrong!

All the symtoms have left me feeling that I can't cope life without drugs.

All these posts have made me strong again and this is JUST withdrawal not my inability to cope.

I have never been happier to fine a chat forum.

Guest · Guest

I, too, had to go through the Effexor withdrawal process. After taking the medication for about a year, I decided I no longer wanted to be on it. It was originally prescribed for me by my doctor for anxiety and mild depression symptoms. I found that the pills definitely reduced my anxiety levels and increased my happiness levels, but I also found that it was interfering with my job. I felt drowsy often; I was sleeping way too much yet never felt refreshed; I had trouble waking up in the mornings; and since I didn't feel very much anxiety any more and since the pills allowed me to feel more 'content' with everything, I feel like I lost a lot of my motivation. The anxiety that used to keep me up at night, worrying how I was going to get a project done at work, was gone. So I didn't sweat deadlines as much or my workload and I always felt like I could put it off and get to it later and that everything would be okay. After a few months of this leading to sub-par job performance (showing up late, always feeling too tired to get a lot done, not feeling the urgency of deadlines, etc.) I decided it was best that I come off the drug and go back to being my old self.

I tried to quit cold turkey during the busiest time of year at my office and it was a disaster. I felt like I was having a continuous hot flash; my mouth was dry no matter how much water I drank; I was dizzy; I couldn't focus; I felt like my head was spinning; and all I wanted to do was sleep and hope that the withdrawal effects would go away. Unfortunately, I was not strong enough to fight through the effects and I didn't know there was a better way to do it, so I just went right back to the pills after about a 4 days.

After taking them for another 6 months and having a real wake-up call in my career (being passed up for a promtion), I decided again that it was time to get off the pills. This time I did research and talked to people and learned that the best way to do it was to ween off gradually and reduce my daily intake. Unfortunately I found that whenever I had access to the pills, I'd never ween myself off gradually. I'd just keep taking them instead. So I realized that my only choice was to get rid of the pills I had and go cold turkey again.

This time I consulted this message thread and used benadryl and used fish oil pills and drank extra water and took dramamine. While it wasn't easy and I still had minor versions of the same side effects (dizziness, hot flashes, feeling dehydrated), I felt much more in control and did not feel withdrawal effects after approximately 1 week.

I recommend anyone that has to go through this to ween off gradually and use the home remedies mentioned above (fish oil, lots of water, dramamine, & benadryl). It will be well worth it.

grace2_89 · Newbie Joined: 19 Aug 2008 Posts: 1

So after 4 years of being on effexor, lamictal, and lithium, I have finally dropped down to just 75mg of Effexor. I took my last 37.5 dose almost 48 hours ago and am feeling MISERABLE.

I'm dizzy, my right hand is tingling, i have NO motivation, and i had to open at work today (4am). I am so glad you guys are here and have done this before. I'm starting my third year of graphic design school on Tuesday and I don't want these pills hanging over my head anymore.

The worst is the vertigo.

If anyone wants to email me with tips or anything I would really appreciate it. This is so hard. grace2_89@live.com

Thanks you guys.

alanlfc · Newbie Joined: 24 Aug 2008 Posts: 1

hi all

This is my first post. I've registered and found this website to help my girlfriend to wean off effexor. She's been going through a miserable time with this drug and yesterday she took the big step to come down from 37.5mg to Zero. (cold turkey) she's feeling dizzy, sick, headaches, crying, etc..

I'm posting to see if anyone can offer any advice. I have read the forum and apparently it can take approximately 5 days until some of the symptoms are gone?

Is this the best way about it or should she take half a 37.5mg tablet instead?

runnermom · Newbie Joined: 25 Aug 2008 Posts: 1

I decided to try stopping effexor since I missed two doses over the weekend. So far I have felt just tired and had wierd dreams, but nothing too disturbing to make me want to start again. I was originally taking it for anxiety but that was mainly due to a stressful job situation which has improved so thought I'd try stopping it to see how that goes. Today I started having to go to the bathroom quite a bit, but again, if that won't last forever, I am ok with that. I have started trying to work out more recently to battle the weight gain that I have experienced which I would guess effexor is partly to blame for. Has anyone felt that running or biking or other exercise has helped? I am supposed to go to a class at the gym at lunch today but don't feel very much like going. But if it will make me feel better and not worse it would be worth it. Thanks.

Guest · Guest

I have been taking 150mg for a year of Effexor. Three weeks ago I went to 75mg with little effect. Then down to half and now zero. I have been completely off for 4 days. I had and am having all the symptoms but they are fading especially now that I know they have to do with the medicine. Initally I though I had the flu or a cold but that is not the case.

I have to say the reducing was not bad for me. The worst was when my body could not have any fix at all. So as I'm sure the weaning off helps it is when you don't give it to your body you really feel it. I haven't been taking anything to help but I will get some fish oil and Omega 3 this evening after work.

I hope the posts continue because it really helps me. From this post it appears that the symptoms will be much better with one week or so of getting completely off it it. I will post and let you know.

Reducing Effexor Withdrawal Symptoms

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