Effexor Withdrawal Tips

Well...i ran out of effexor 4 days ago. I feel like I am going nuts. I was wondering if my symptons (dizziness, tingling in my face and hands, diarreha, stomach cramps, insomnia, night sweats) were all related to not takng my medicine and from reading this post, they apparently are. My doctor will not give me any more samples and we buy our meds via mail order so, I am hoping that my medicine arrives soon. I mailed in my order approximately 4 weeks ago but have not received the pills. Just a question for those who started taking the medicine again...did all these awful symptoms go away right when you started taking the medicine or did it take a few days? I am obviously hoping for right away.

GoingCrazy~ In the process of me trying to get off of the medication, I would go one day without and one day with, then two days without etc., and I would be relieved of the the symptoms you described when I would take my reduced dose. Your withdrawal symptoms should go away. Good luck to you.

I am a 51 year old grandma and have been taking Effexor XR for almost 8 years. Everytime I try to get off the stuff, I experience all the withdrawal symptoms that you other readers have expressed. It scares me to think that doctors are still prescribing it on a long-term basis. I needed it 8-10 years ago when I was going through depression due to my divorce, but the only reason I am still on it today is because I have tried and I can't get off the crappy stuff! I get the brain shivers (a wonderful way to describe that nasty part of the withdrawal, I might add...no other words quite describe that part so effectively), stomach aches, migraines, mood swings, anger, depression, visual disturbances, etc. I tried taking myself off of it, but I must have been doing it too quickly. Now, I am being smarter. I will be seeing a doctor next week and will follow his advice. I am also stocking up on bottled water, fresh fruits and veggies, and a box of Benadryl, just in case I need it at night. And I am doing a lot of reading about the subject so I can fully prepare myself for what is ahead. I ask your prayers and I thank God I found this website. THANK YOU and good luck to the rest of you! --SB

I was on a 150 mg dose for about 5 months. I went down to 75 mg for two weeks then 37.5 for one. I'm at the end of day two without effexor and i'm feeling worse by the hour. I've hated the side effects of this drug from the beginning and planned to stop taking it as soon as I was in an even slightly more stable place in my life. I really feel like I've been a zombie for half a year. Although I will admit it helped some, I really don't think it's worth the side effects and withdrawal to treat mild depression. Major fatigue and flu-like symptoms are making me feel pretty incapacitated right now. I'm really, really hoping this doesn't get much worse. I don't think i can go to work Monday morning feeling like this. I'm trying to be tough, but never having felt such unusual symptoms like this is pretty scary. Finding this site has been comforting though. It's good to know I'm not alone. I'm sucking down the fluids and trying out some Benadryl for relief. I'm hoping I'll be able to drive tomorrow so I can pick up some Omega 4. At this point, I would eat lawn clippings if I thought it would help!

I have been taking Effexor for about (10) ten years . (3x 75mg)(225mg total). I have documentation to back this claim. To be honest with you in the biginig it make your life beautifull. But after a year or more using it , you'll find out what hell is really like. For me was the pressure in my head and a feeling of trowing up after a couple days not using it. Now , I it has been almost 6 months since last use it. I absolutly have no side affect , my mood is great. For those of you who really want to quit, I wil be able to help. to be honest with with you the treament is much much simpler than you might imagine. It will cost you alittle bit but think about the benefit.

IT'S ALMOST OVER!! I'M ALMOST FREE!! It has been about 3 1/2 weeks since I started coming down off my Effexor dose of 225 mg. I went through hell to say the least. I remember on Good Friday, I went to a play, and I was having tremendous brain shivers. I then developed a horrendous cold topped with brain shivers, stomach issues, insomnia, manic episodes, weeping spells, anger spells, head in the clouds feeling, inability to concentrate, and of course we can't forget pooping every 5 mins (not diarrhea, but close). It was a week later on that next Friday, that all of a sudden I felt "normal" for a bit. It was like something snapped me out of it. From then on, I have been on the up hill swing. Everyday seems to prove less and less symptoms. Right now, it's going to be the second Friday since Good Friday, and I am still experiencing some lingering withdrawal symptoms like dizzy/lightheadedness, bowel issues, weeping spells, and being the angry witch symptom, as my husband puts it. These all come and go and are not real bad like they used to be, but they are hanging on for the last who-rah. But I'm almost free! Hang in there everyone, and don't go back on the pills. I vowed I wouldn't and I just hung in there, and now I feel better day after day. I even have my sex drive back! It's great! Good luck to you all! (I hope this helps, HamsterInAmaze) I'll be back to let you know if I am still doing alright. Take care. ~Jess.

is anyone on this evening?

i'm a week and a half without effexor, and i'm feeling much better physically. i have a lot more energy. i'm not getting nauseous as often and i can concentrate better. i'm having pretty intense mood swings now, and i'm having a really hard time sleeping. but in general much better.

Thanx to all who have posted - It's really helped both me and my partner to read your similar situations. Luved the bit about the *Angry Witch Syndrome* in your post Jess! :-) My partner and I had a good laugh as we can relate! Also very happy to hear that the sex drive will come back! Sheeesh! I have been on effexor for approx. 5 years. *Depression* runs in my family and I can remember first having symptoms as an early teenager (I'm 31 now). I finally decided to try an AD and my doctor prescribed 150mgs. All was well and I did feel better, apart from very sweaty sleeping and the brain shivers and nausea if I missed a dose. I had an accident 2 years ago and broke both my heels. I was basically housebound for 6 months and my depression came back. My new GP boosted my dose to 300mgs. It never really had much of an effect other than an increase in the side-effects. I felt like a zombie. Once I was back on my feet and going to physio I decided I needed to get off the Effexor. I was feeling better but I knew I had to do it very slowly. It's taken me 9 months to get down to 37.5 mgs... which is apparently the smallest dose (i thought there was a 20mg?) For the past month I have been taking pellets out of each capsule. I drop by two each day. I'm not sure how many are actually in each capsule but as of today I am taking out 39 pellets. I need to take my pill at the exact same time every day or I feel awful. I start noticing side-effects (Nausea, brain shivers, sweating, pressure in my forehead) about 2 hours before I'm due for the daily dose. This past weekend I had more emotional side-effects for a couple of days.... crying uncontrollably, blurred vision, anxious, panic attacks. I'm reading a book (the anti-depressant solution - jospeh glenmullen m.d.) which warns that this is not a relapse into the depression but a side-effect (Something most GP's will just increase your dosage for) I figure I have about 1-2 more months until I'm done with these awful drugs. Looking forward to conquering this throught natural means... excercise, diet etc. I'm also hoping I will lose the 30 or so lbs I've gained and can't seem to shed no matter how hard I try! Thanx again to all who have posted! Good Luck to all of you who are in the same boat!

Hi all once again. It has now been almost a full month since I took any Effexor. I FEEL GREAT!!!! I can't begin to tell you how awesome it is to feel normal again. (My hubby even admits to me being normal...what a miracle!) Anyway, the phrase~ no pain, no gain~ holds true. I went through hell the first two weeks with brain shivers, uncontrollable crying, diarrhea, anger rages, a nasty cold, heavy sweating, dizziness, lightheadedness, and just not feeling 'right', like someone else was doing the actions and not me. But now, I have a clear head, I have emotion again, a sex drive, and I feel human again. I urge all of you to just hang in there and get off the stuff. You will feel 100% different. Good luck and keep trying. Just remember I went from 225mg for over 2 years, down to nothing in 2 weeks, and now it's been a month of nothing, and it's all good. Just grit your teeth and do it! You will be happy you did! Take Care, Jess.

Hi All! I'm so grateful I found this stream...I've been taking Effexor xr 75mg for 3 years, and it helped me come out of a deep depression. That situation has been overwith for a long time, and I can't understand why my doctor would keep me on this drug. After reading all the entries, I realized that I've also been numb to feelings and emotions. I've also gained 30 lbs. I've decided to quit, and am using the gradual method of wetting my finger and putting it on the end of the capsule and discarding what sticks. My plan is to do this once for the first week, twice for the second week, and so on, until the capsul is empty. I'm very excited at the prospect of feeling things again, having a labido again, and not gaining anymore weight. I recently gave up Diet Cokes to be healthier, and the withdrawal symptoms were similar to what's been described here, so I'm going to be very careful. Today is the first day, and I feel fine. I'll keep you all posted. Take care :-) Suzanne

I'm so glad I found this site! Thank you to Tase2 for continuing to post updates. I was on Effexor for 6 years for anxiety - started at 150 and worked my way down to 37.5 over the last year. Found out I'm pregnant so I stopped taking it altogether 6 days ago. Brain zaps are terrible - almost constant. And the crying is awful - and I'm really angry and irratable which I like to think is unlike me. I didn't know it would last this long - thought it would be just a few days. I don't regret taking the meds although I wished I'd have researched this withdrawal before getting pregnant so I wouldn't be dealing with those symptoms on top of this withdrawal plus quitting drinking/smoking all at ONCE! I will post again when the symptoms subside so that others know exactly how long it lasts. Cannot WAIT until it's over. best of luck to all! :-)

Well, I'm on day 3 and I'm doing alright! The first day I took one wet finger off the top of the capsule...no withdrawl symptoms. The second day I took two wet fingers off the top, only one second of feeling dizzy the whole day. Today I did two wet fingers again and will continue for the next four days. So far I feel much happier, and I have teared up a few times, but at heartfelt moments, and I'm not irritable at all. It's going great :-) Take care, Suzanne

I am also glad I found this site as it helps understand what I now feel. I have been taking Efexxor for 2 years at 150mg. Now down at 75mg since 4 days. Well, side effects...here they are: nausea, headaches, irritability, sex is back (!!!) and I get this weird feeling of having to run a marathon because of all the electricity I have in my muscles (that is the way I feel now). I get a bit depressed from time to time but not much. Difficulty to concentrate, as it was mentioned. As other people said, I wish my doctor told me about the side effects when one wants to stop. Anyway, just to let you know that you are not alone.... it will go away soon and the sunshine will shine again!

I have been on Effexor for the past year and a half, and decided that it was time to stop taking it. I asked my Doctor to put me on a lower dosage, and just shrugged it off, so I decided to take the matter into my own hands, and just stop cold turkey. It has been about 3 weeks now, and I have never felt so sick. Extreme brain shivers, upset stomach, dizzyness, tiredness, I am always hungry, I have broken out in pimples, BUT I have my sex drive back again! The symptoms keep going, I can cry at ANYTHING, and have had the weirdest dreams. I have decided that I am going to continue this cold turkey, anti-effexor method and not give in and start taking it. I haven't found anything that works for me yet to help with the symptoms, but Im not going to give up. I think anyone who has/is quitting this drug needs to keep reminding themselves that they are not alone, and that the symptoms can't last forever!