I have been on Effexor XR for the past two years. Everytime I would have any increase in depression or anxiety my Dr would up the dose. I ended at 375mg/day. The slightest problem with my intestines (e.g. virus...) would result in brain zaps and vertigo. I started with a neurologist thinking that maybe other things could be going on. She diagnosed me with a seizure disorder and placed me on an anti-seizure medicine. At no point did either my psychiatrist or neorologist ever bother to consider the overly large dose and KNOWN side effects of effexor as indicative of the symptoms I displayed. I decided to look at scholarly articles regarding Effexor use and withdrawal. After carefully reviewing what I regard as too few open-literature research papers available on Effexor long term use and withdrawal, I informed all my Dr's that I was going to go back to square one and began slowly removing myself from what had become a collection of more than 9 seperate medications for neural/psychological issues. It has taken over 4 months for me to taper from the Effexor. I still am having significant issues with 'brain zaps', vertigo, tinitus and restlessness. I have still not found any useful information from Wyath on the issues of withdrawal and am mistified how this drug can be so overwhelmingly considered by the psychiatric community as 'safe and effective'. Amazingly, the World Health Organization does not recommend Effexor for use in under-developed countries. It is too bad our own country cannot seem to make the same judgement to a drug that can potentially hook a person for life.
boy do I hear ya! I've been on Zoloft for 20+ years, and I'm 64 years old now. I too have tried to stop taking it. Two or three times I have tried with the same results that you have described here now. My kids want me to get off of it, and I want to too, but as you said it is next to impossible. I am withdrawing now, and it's been 5 days. I watched a video with my son who is 27 and it showed how a Zoloft pill was picked up by a magnet. A magnet means that there are metals in the brain that has been put there by the pill! This is government control, as I believe they had a plan about this for many years to control the population. When I started taking it no one knew about panic disorder or what anti-depressants could turn out to be or what they could cause in people in 10 years. Well, because everyone coming off of the pill no matter which one it is whether it be Lexapro, Effexor or Zoloft, has the same withdrawal symptoms, I surmise it to say that they are all in their effect on the human brain! How dare they do this to human beings brains! I would LOVE to sue that evil company and would if I knew how to go about it. Maybe you can help to guide me in that. Thanks for
Hi, my name is doris and I've been trying to wean myself of this drug as well. I went through a horrible divorce so my doctor put me on Effexor. He never told me either how terrible it would be if I wanted to discontinue this drug. First time I tried to get of was about 1 1/2 ago. My symptoms were horrible. Vomitting, could not walk or speak properly, stomache cramps, migraine headache. I was out of work for 1 week ..It was worse than the flu. I went back on it (had to go to work) and was fine. 2nd time was about 11 month ago. I tried to reduce the dosage slowly but ended up back on 150 mg because I could not take the pain any longer. 3rd and currently I've been trying since June..I'm now on 25 granulates and have horrific headaches. I hope I can get off this soon. This is a terrible drug and it needs to be taken of the market.
When I started talking this drug I could finally function without crying 24/7. However, I began to feel like a zombie because I heard no emotion good or bad. When I quit taking it after a year I had electric shock like results in my head and major constant headaches. After being on this medication for about 6 months I felt asked still feel like I lost my mind completely. I was suicidal and when I went to the emergency room I assaulted a nurse who then called the police and I was having a complete anxiety attack, didn't want anyone to touch me and was charged with assault on an officer. The police officer knew me asked told the judge here didn't know what was wrong with me but that was affinity not the woman he knew... I would not recommend anyone take this medication!!
Did you ever do this? Posts says from over a year ago, but I got the brain zaps too when trying to come off of this drug.
Thank you for taking the steps to help those of us with Effexor withdrawl. I lost my insurance so had no choice but to go off Effexor. I was on 300 mg. I started the weaning process 4 weeks ago. Right now I am lying in bed unable to get up due to dizziness, brain zaps, stomach pain, sensitivity to light. I have had to talk myself out off suicide everyday. I have been bed ridden, I haven't returned phone calls from friends, I los t my chance at getting a job cause I got angry at the place that was helping me get a job. Me and my husband are probably getting a divorce because I almost ran him over with the car yesterday because he wouldn't let me drive to the store because he said I was in no shape to drive. Nobody should have to go through this hell. Thank you.
thank u for doing this. this drug is evil and no one should have to go through what we have been through.
How do I get involved with the class action lawsuit?
I would like to jump on your train