I have to agree with Memory & disagree with KramarNP. I have been on Effexor XR for 8 years, and yes it probably saved my life. I have tried to come off it twice, unsuccessfully, probably due more to the side effects than my own stuff, but my own stuff doesn't help. I will probably try again to come off Effexor, but I have to be realistic and realize that there's a possibility I may need to stay on it for my lifetime. That's just the way it might be. Everybody is different and has different experiences. I moved abroad 15 years ago, have no family, no friends, and no support-this is part of the reason I unded up so depressed in the first place. Well, I do have a brother living back in the US. He is schizophrenic. Someone convinced him he could come off his medication if he improved his diet, and it was the one and only time he ended up in a psychiatric hospital. I went to the site KramarNP supplied a link for and it's a site that sells medication. A healthy diet rich in vitamins and nutrients is good for everyone,as is excercise. However, it isn't NECESSARILY a cure-all for everything and everyone. It's great to have this site where people with similar experiences can share them with people who understand.
Stop promoting Scientology here KramarNp. That's not a suggestion to coming off An addictive med. That can kill someone. Have you not heard a bout the rapper that was in jail that was denied his psychiatric meds for like 6 days or less and died? Don't give me a response like he died because he wasn't given any vitamin packets either. You can't fool me or most with a new book and new author. I know what you are trying to push. For examples of why scientology kill and are dangerous, go to RickRoss.com and go to the bottom where it says cults and click on scientology. Those of you who dont know much about it will be glad you checked that out!
There is hope for us. I was on Effexor XR 75mg for about 4yrs before losing my insurance and had no choice but to wean off properly. Like everyone else on this board I experienced the Brain zaps or Brain shivers and knew this was a symptom of withdrawl. However, I have always been into nauturopathic medicine so I immediately started doing what I could to get the horrible withdrawls to end ASAP. Well it is close to a week since stoping the medication and I report that I have not had a "Zap" yet today. How did I do it. Well, I have combined high dose Omega3/6/9 EFA with this amazing supplement I recently bought at my health club called Neurolink. I kid you not I think this supplement is a god send for us folks and will post my knowledge of it on every blog site I find. Neurolink is about 44 dollars a bottle but it is well worth it!! It's like the supplement has completely rewired my brain in a good way...naturally. I will find the link for this product and post it. Also, I have being doing yoga, steam room and aerobic exercise which has probably helped with the detox as well. Hang in there yall.
lorco, i feel for you, i was on 75 mg now on 37.5, i am trying to stop the drug and i will say it is the hardest thing i ever had to do , your body depends on the drug and the withdrawl are horrible, i am not trying to scare you but it is awful, you need to find away to see a doctor and get the help to get off this med, it is very scary and i wish i did research on this drug before i went on it , i am now prego and trying to go cold turkey i feel it is not possible i think i am loosing my mind, please try to see a doctor!!!!!!!!!!!
You could ask for generic Effexor, but many of us have withdrawal side effects or other problems with generic Effexor.
With all your stress, this may not be a good time to stop your antidepressants. But if you don't tolerate the cheap Effexor, another option is to switch to Prozac, for 2 reasons. First, maybe you would tolerate the generic Prozac (about $28 per month). Second, it is easy to taper off Prozac.
If you can talk to your doctor... maybe he has some samples to tide you over, or could help arrange "compassionate release" of free meds from the drug company.
I had terrible vertigo/vomit with tapering off Effexor. I switched to liquid Prozac so I could taper down to about 1 mg/day before stopping, and was fine. Some are able to even take one tablet of Prozac 20, and stop, because it comes out of your system over about 10 days.
Keep us posted... let us know how it goes.
With all your stress, this may not be a good time to stop your antidepressants. But if you don't tolerate the cheap Effexor, another option is to switch to Prozac, for 2 reasons. First, maybe you would tolerate the generic Prozac (about $28 per month). Second, it is easy to taper off Prozac.
If you can talk to your doctor... maybe he has some samples to tide you over, or could help arrange "compassionate release" of free meds from the drug company.
I had terrible vertigo/vomit with tapering off Effexor. I switched to liquid Prozac so I could taper down to about 1 mg/day before stopping, and was fine. Some are able to even take one tablet of Prozac 20, and stop, because it comes out of your system over about 10 days.
Keep us posted... let us know how it goes.