Hi,
I just wanna say I have been reading all about th effexor withdrawals on this site. I was prescribed it 2 years ago and never went above 37.5 mg. I weined myself to 18 mg then 9 mg then 4.5 mg over a month. I too am experiencing the brain shivers and things that scared me beyond belief. I have been off of it now for 4 days. Symptoms are subsiding. What I was looking for in this forum was...is there anyone out there that has been off this stuff for over a year and that has not gotten on any other antidepressant. I want to know if the brain shivers go completely away and if all other side affects went away and stayed away. I too will never never never never never go on a antidepressant again. I think I would look for a more natural way first.
I just wanna say I have been reading all about th effexor withdrawals on this site. I was prescribed it 2 years ago and never went above 37.5 mg. I weined myself to 18 mg then 9 mg then 4.5 mg over a month. I too am experiencing the brain shivers and things that scared me beyond belief. I have been off of it now for 4 days. Symptoms are subsiding. What I was looking for in this forum was...is there anyone out there that has been off this stuff for over a year and that has not gotten on any other antidepressant. I want to know if the brain shivers go completely away and if all other side affects went away and stayed away. I too will never never never never never go on a antidepressant again. I think I would look for a more natural way first.
Hi--My Dr said everyone is different and these symptoms can last for many months. Not sure if you are still having problems, but I've been off Effexor for 6 months and went cold turkey. I still have some issues with increased anxiety, insomnia, sadness (don't know if the sadness is from other issues). Some natural things that help are: flax seed oil capsules or fish oil capsules-- 1000 mg 1x or 2x a day --helped with sadness and brain zaps. Then I use a passionflower/chamomille tea for anxiety and insomnia. The one I use is Traditional Medecinals called "Nighty Night." You can get it at Whole Foods and some groceries-- this helped a lot. Overall, I am dealing with other issues and just decided to go back on Zoloft. we will see how it goes...
I have not been off for very long, but here is a post I put somewhere else:
I am so sorry you are feeling this way! I have been completely off Effexor for a week and a half now, and the first 8 days were HORRIBLE. I am still getting dizzy but the zaps have been gone since day 7. I am currently a 4th year medical student, so I was very trusting in taking the advice of a psychiatrist, but now I truly think these drugs can do a great amount of harm. This is not to say they do not benefit some, but my experience (any many others!) has been nothing short of hellish!
I was on Effexor for 6 months. Before I took this evil thing, I was fit and very busy....I had frequent anxiety and panic, and had not been successful on Wellbutrin. I was TOLD I must be depressed too, although I knew deep down I was only depressed because I was anxious all the time! I went from being a fitness model to a couch potato who gained 25lbs in 2 months! Not only this, but I was experiencing urges to cut myself during the first month of the pill (I never did). When I tried to workout, I would lose my breath and turn bright red. It progressed so far that on four occasions I experienced 1-2hrs of tachycardia where my heart beat out of control despite lying in bed and taking sedatives. I went from being the healthiest person I knew to being a patient worked up for heart problems! In addition, I discovered that my blood pressure had become borderline hypertensive! I also experienced such severe constipation that I had to use enemas to go at all, and had a belly so swollen it looked like I was 8 months pregnant. Finally, after 6 months of being MORE DEPRESSED than ever in my life, unable to fit any clothes, workout, poop, desire sex, or have any sort of a life, my doctor FINALLY decided maybe it actually was the drug causing these problems.
Just to let you all know, it CAN be done to get off of this pills. I am feeling like a new person already after only a week and a half. I still need to take Dramamine at times, or a small dose of Klonipin for anxiety, but overall my mood has been so much BETTER after getting the drug out of my system. My boyfriend says I am a new person again! To any of you who are considering quitting, but have read the terrible reports of withdrawal, you can do it, trust me! If I can help just one person get off of this drug (and they feel ready to do so!) I will be very happy. There are many natural alternatives and over the counter medications that can help ease the experience and help you lead a better life off of the pills!
These forums are so important, at my worst last week I was lying in bed being zapped and dizzy, but hearing other peoples experiences kept me going!
I am so sorry you are feeling this way! I have been completely off Effexor for a week and a half now, and the first 8 days were HORRIBLE. I am still getting dizzy but the zaps have been gone since day 7. I am currently a 4th year medical student, so I was very trusting in taking the advice of a psychiatrist, but now I truly think these drugs can do a great amount of harm. This is not to say they do not benefit some, but my experience (any many others!) has been nothing short of hellish!
I was on Effexor for 6 months. Before I took this evil thing, I was fit and very busy....I had frequent anxiety and panic, and had not been successful on Wellbutrin. I was TOLD I must be depressed too, although I knew deep down I was only depressed because I was anxious all the time! I went from being a fitness model to a couch potato who gained 25lbs in 2 months! Not only this, but I was experiencing urges to cut myself during the first month of the pill (I never did). When I tried to workout, I would lose my breath and turn bright red. It progressed so far that on four occasions I experienced 1-2hrs of tachycardia where my heart beat out of control despite lying in bed and taking sedatives. I went from being the healthiest person I knew to being a patient worked up for heart problems! In addition, I discovered that my blood pressure had become borderline hypertensive! I also experienced such severe constipation that I had to use enemas to go at all, and had a belly so swollen it looked like I was 8 months pregnant. Finally, after 6 months of being MORE DEPRESSED than ever in my life, unable to fit any clothes, workout, poop, desire sex, or have any sort of a life, my doctor FINALLY decided maybe it actually was the drug causing these problems.
Just to let you all know, it CAN be done to get off of this pills. I am feeling like a new person already after only a week and a half. I still need to take Dramamine at times, or a small dose of Klonipin for anxiety, but overall my mood has been so much BETTER after getting the drug out of my system. My boyfriend says I am a new person again! To any of you who are considering quitting, but have read the terrible reports of withdrawal, you can do it, trust me! If I can help just one person get off of this drug (and they feel ready to do so!) I will be very happy. There are many natural alternatives and over the counter medications that can help ease the experience and help you lead a better life off of the pills!
These forums are so important, at my worst last week I was lying in bed being zapped and dizzy, but hearing other peoples experiences kept me going!
Are you still having success being off Effexor? I am scared the depression will get worse. But I am doing a very strict nutrition program called Nutrtion response testing. She said the medication was actually making me feel worse. And it blocked supplements from being absorbed In my system. It scares me to read much on the internet about all of this because some people report horror stories. I need to feel it I persist the side effects of withdrawal will subside and I can continue my healthy path to getting well and BE OKAY!!