Effexor Withdrawal Tips

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!!!!!

I went cold turkey as of yesterday. It has been 48 hours since I have not taken my daily dose of 225mg of effexor. I must say, it is getting worse. At first it was nasua and little brain zaps. Today it was worse nasua and quite a bit of brain zaps.. Tonight--- HOLY CRAP! Im couch bound, just moving my eyes shoots electric pulses from my head through my finger tips! I get zapped about 15-20 times a minute. Most are so bad, it feels for that split second that I am going to pass out. I am also battling a pretty god headache tonight. I really do not want to give in and take any more of this junk medicine. I am 28 and male. I went on the medicine after finally agreeing with myself that I have real bad anxeity. I saw a counslor that sent me to a "good doctor" and I got on effexor. So after 5 months of starting at 75mg and working up to 225mg and NOTHING happening for me, no changes in my mood or anything noticable, I decided enough is enough and stopped taking it. I have a very high tolerance for medication/drugs/alchol.. I figured I would not withdraw from effexor since it never changed me one bit. Seems I was wrong. So here I sit, feel like I have the flu, headache, brain zaps shooting through my body out my figers and toes, stomach pains and upset stomach, typing about how I wasted time with this medication, that did nothing at all for me besides for this wonderful withdrawl! I am going to try and tough it out, not sure how much worse things could get or how long I could remain in this state. I read vitamin water + benedryl + omega 4 = happiness... I think I am going to give that a shot and see if this withdrawl garbage gets any better.. I will post an update in a couple days! ~Chris

Update: last night the brain zaps got so bad I could barely function or move my eyes. I took some benydril in hope for anything to help. I must say it completly took the edge off that crap! Who ever discovered that is god-sent! THANK YOU! I went to work today, real moody. Moods went from depressed and down to angery. I didn't have many brain zaps during the day but I did have a persistant headache and stomach is still a mess. I thought I was done withthe brain zaps but they came back around 3:00pm REAL BAD! I took some benydril and it took the edge off in about 15 minutes. I am now real tierd and still down in the dumps real bad. I can not focus on work or anything if my life dependend on it! Brain zaps at th moment are still there but pretty toned down and not that ofter (been about 2 hours since i took the benydril) I am real tied and will probally sleep soon. I got a decent night sleep last night and no nightmares... So far so good (thank you benydril) .. 72 hours effexor free - cold turkey! Can't wait to get over all this crap! Not giving up!!! ~Chris

Just wondered how you are doing. I am down to 175 mg. It has been tough and I had such a bad headache yesterday I though I would die! It got better. Sunshine, lots of H2o etc. Mary

I joined this thread as I trying very hard to get off Effexor. Apparently I am not alone in my misery. I have been tapering off of Effexor. Cut back from 75mg to 37.5mg around Jan. 20 Cut back from 37.5 mg everyday to 37.5mg every other day on March 8. Doc told me do on and off for 12 days or so. Well I am having a real tough time. I've got those darn "brain shivers" that are driving me bonkers. I'm going to try and tough it out and get off of this stuff. I will try and report my progress. Let's all try and hang in there.!

%-) i hope you guys are right about this benedryl business b/c i feel like i am freaking out.... i am really hoping the fact that some have not come back to update us readers means they have gotten better and forgotten about this website. o.O i am pretty pissed my doctor told me NOTHING about these side effects, but thats doctors today, right? so anyone new tuning in, the side effects for me are MAJOR brain tingles, cannot concentrate, diarrhea, and extreme moodiness... it's nice to be able to cry again, but not at EVERYTHING!!! and people are really irritating me--i don't want anyone to even touch my arm, or i feel i will bite their head off. any movement seems difficult, driving is horrendous, especially over potholes. i started on 75mg, weaned to 37.5, every other day, now off for 3 days... i PRAY this nightmare will end soon :'(

Looks like we are in the same boat timewise.I felt better earlier today, now not so much :(

I went on to Effexor at the request of frinds and family. They all felt I was depressed from my recent divorce. I refused to take anything and my doctor convinced me that it may be a good idea to try it. Right now I am regretting the decision to take it. My job requires a lot of concentration, patients and ability to do numbers. For the past week I can do none of these things. I am going through many of the symptoms that people have described. My pharmacists said he had never heard of my symptoms and my doctor's assistant said the same thing. I'm glad I found this forum because I was beginning to think I had another problem.

I was put on effexor in Dec. of 2000 for chemical depression. I was having daily panic attacks and not sleeping. After one week my panics went away but kept taking pills that could never get off of. I had no idea at the time what I was in for. I tried many times to quit, but it is not possible. I can't believe the withdrawal symptoms -- ungodly. In 2004 I cut my prescription from 150 to 75. In 2005 i cut 75s in half. In 2006 I cut 75s in fourths. Jan 2007 i cut 75s into eighths. I just now started grinding up a 75 in my mortar and dip my finger in it every morning now. I hope that eventually I can get off of this crap. I completely blew up in my weight from 125 to 205, now down to 185. has anyone lost their weight after getting off of effexor? Let me know. Hope this helps someone.

I just wanted to pop in with an update. Today is day 8 or 9 being totally off Effexor. I am cautiously optimistic that the worst is totally behind me. I have a nasty cold, bug, flu so I can't say I feel great or even good, but I can say I feel better. Also I don't want to get too excited as perhaps the brain and it's intricate functions, is currently battling the cold symptoms and thus leaving the withdrawal effects alone for a while. Does that sound whack or what? I am also afraid of possible re-emergence of old symptoms. There was a reason to be on Effexor in the first place, so I pray that old symptoms don't come back. I guess I don't know what it is like to feel well, and how will I know when I do, and can I stop worrying about that it won't last. Anyway for this minute I actually feel pretty good. NO Brain Shivers, NO excess dizziness, no terrible mood swings. I will keep you posted. tase

I have gone from 300mg to 175 mg and the withdrawl symptoms have gone away. Now it's time to go down again. I'm so glad to hear that you are completely off! Hang in there! Keep hydrated and get some sunshine! Mary C.