Effexor XR withdrawals; side effects while taking it also; R

My psychiatrist put me on Effexor about a year ago. He had me taking 150 mg twice a day. At first, I thought that it was a great drug and that I finally found something to help my depression. However, about a couple weeks after I was on it, I started having horrible side effects. I googled "effexor side effects" and this is what came up: "nausea, dizziness, sleepiness, sweating, dry mouth, gas, abnormal vision, nervousness, insomnia, loss of appetite, constipation, confusion, agitation, tremors, yawning, palpitations, and increased cholesterol."
I had all of those side effects. I lost 20 pounds in 2 weeks. I was wanting to lose weight, but not in that kind of way; that couldn't be healthy at all. I would twitch constantly and just be very awake. If I did not my daily dose at the same time every day, I would have withdrawal symptoms. I also googled "withdrawal symptoms," and this is what came up: "dizziness, dry mouth, fatigue, major headaches, nervousness, tremors, vertigo, vomiting, agitation, abdominal pain, confusion." Also, I found this: I even read on a website that effexor has a half-life of 5 hours. That might be why I had withdrawal symptoms while I was still taking the medicine. "The 'zzt' you can feel in your head, an electric sort of vertigo, and it often reverberates in your hands and fingers." The 'zzt' feeling that was talking about would be classified under the tremor part of the withdrawal symptoms. That was the worst part of the withdrawal symptoms for me. Like I said, I would feel all of these symptoms even when I was on it. The worst were the brain tremors like I said, extreme sweating, nervousness and weight loss. Needless to say, I asked my doctor to take me off of it. He never warned me of the side effects/withdrawals. He put me on Cymbalta, which wasn't much better. I then went on Lexapro, which didn't help at all. Right now, I am taking Prozac. I have had depression for about 8 years, and have taken numerous medications for it, and the only one that seems to help is Prozac. A couple weeks ago, I started to feel normal again. It had been about 6 months since I stopped taking effexor. In those 6 months, I thought that I would never feel like myself again, and that I was going crazy and just had the worst depression I've ever had. I am so glad that it has gone away. I read about people saying it took them months for the withdrawal symptoms to go away, and I hated that and just never thought that I would get better. However, I am feeling great now. My advice for anyone going through as bad of withdrawals as I was on is that it does eventually get better. It may take months to a year, but it does get better. I never would kill myself, but I had the worst suicidal thoughts in my withdrawal symptoms. I have read that this medicine works for some people, but I feel like it needs to be taken off the market. I feel it does more people bad than it does good. I would rather be depressed anyday than go through those withdrawal symptoms again. If anybody knows of any kind of petition there is to take this off the market, please let me know by email: _[removed]_. Anyway I have been wanting to let that off my chest for a while, but for the record I hate effexor!

wow guys i cant thank you enough for the side effects listed and how yous got over them, i was on effexor after i left school for about 3 months and as soon as my mates mum told me how it screwed her up i wanted out, but yeh i took out 10 crystals a day as told by my doctor, and im gettin those brain zaps when i quickly change direction and stuff, but i tend to drink a lot of energy drinks and coffee, so im thinkin with the water i should be fine, thanks to everyone

john :-D

I just want to thank everyone who's posted entrys regarding effects coming off effexor. I'm 19 yrs old and have been on effexor since i was 14... just recently i was re-diagnosed from clinically depressed to bipolar II and my dr is taking/took my off effexor and i've been completly off for 10 days now and its killing me!!! the most severe migranes i've ever had (and let me tell you i've had them bad enough to be crying in a ball in a dark room) most severe heat flashes (to the point i stick my head in ice water) insane nausea (yet nothing comes up!) extreme dizzyness (even sitting down im dizzy!) severe moodswings (break down in tears for no reason) and so much more.. i thought i was weird or something because i'm the only one in my family who has any medical problems so no one knows how to deal with it so we dont know if these symptoms are all normal or not.. so when i read on here a lot of it made me feel better, to know that im not alone in this cycle of hell. you've all given me hope that there will be an end eventually.. my main problem is that i'm a freshman in college over a hundred miles away from my home (support system) and am currently on spring break.. the problem is is that i go back to school on sunday (2 days!) and don't have any of these side effects under control and i really dont want to have something happen during class or somewhere where i cant just let loose to move on... i'm completly terrified to go back to school like just thinking about it i want to cry and roll in a ball. does anyone have any suggestions for help? i would truely appreciate it because i am at a loss and my dr can only tell me so much because he's never experienced it himself, my mom can only help so much cuz she only knows the things i can tell her, you all on the other hand have been through it and maybe can help me. my email adress is _[removed]_ please email me if you have any words of encouragment or ideas to help get through school and classes... thanks a ton everyone. and if you do email me besure to include the word effexor in the subject so i know its not junk mail. please please please share your knowledge.
much appreciated
larissa 19yrs colorado

i am so glad that i am not the only person that stopped taking effexor and have horrible side effects i am constantly dizzy and i see little spots it is hard to do anything and i am really tired how long is this process going to last?

I started taking Effexor XR under a shrink's care 8 years ago. It was a nightmare to get ON them- month's of side effects including severe tremors (which went away) and super heightened reflexes (which didn't). He took me up to 450 mg's daily, WAY over the maximum dose (I didn't know that at the time.) He said, "I'm giving you the neutron bomb here- if it doesn't work, nothing will." He was right- it worked like a champ. I finally climbed out of bed and got busy with other, non-med therapies. I believe I healed a lot of wounds and after 4 years dropped to 300 mg's on my own. I might have been a little numb, a little TOO happy, but it was so much better than being in bed half the day and checking my door locks forty times! A year ago I lost my insurance and thought it was time to start the long road to get off Effexor completely. Man, this drug is wicked. After tapering to 75 mgs., then taking them every other day, I've spent 5 days clean. Some have said to me, "Man, you were a LOT more fun on you meds!" Ouch. My mate says he doesn't want to date anymore unless I resume them- double ouch. Let me get OFF of them first before you criticize, wouldja'? I'm struggling, but I want out of that prison so much, even though it saved me. If you're on it, you're an addict. You DON'T miss a day because you don't want to pay the price. Sure, miss birth control, but DON'T MISS THE EFFEXOR. Quitting smoking was a helluva lot easier. My brain is still swimming constantly- "I'm dizzy-no I'm fine-wait I'm not- I can't see right- oh there, now it's okay-no it's not-should I drive- ZZZZZAAPPPP- what the hell was that-No, I'm crying because you did this-oh wait, maybe not- maybe it's the meds- sorry- NO NOT sorry!- wish I was hungry...................." It goes on and on, but I am not giving up. The boyfriend may leave, the friends may be bummed, I may feel like c**p, but I'm sticking this out. Thank God I'm laid off. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat. Do I like what's happening to me now? No, no, no. I'm so sorry for anyone who is going thru this, and at the same time so relieved that I am not alone. I wish I could share your words with the people in my life- those who criticize AND those who don't beleive this is happening to me- "Oh, I've known lots of people who took an antidepressant- it's not big deal." Really? ZZZZZAAAAPPPP! How'd that feel? Too bad healing myself had such horrible consequences.

I went from;
300mg of Effexor XR- 2 Years
225mg of Effexor XR – 6 months
150mg of Effexor XR – 6 months
75mg + 37.5mg of Effexor XR – 9 months
75mg of Effexor XR for – 10 months
37.5mg of Effexor XR- 3 months
0mg
*Opening the capsules, and counting the grains then adding back half etc. did not work for me, I did make several attempts,- but- all in vain. BUT- That may work for you. There is plenty of research and info on how one should/can do this. – My advice is- Do a ton of research, and then print it out and take it with you when you Talk to your Doctor.
The Doctor: If your Dr. knows nothing about the serious problems of Effexor withdrawal, then I INSIST you find another DR!!! Before you make this journey****There are great and VERY well-informed Doctors, but it is Your job to find them. Make 200 Phone calls if that is what needs to be done. Call depression clinics for references and referrals! But- please find one. Don’t go through this alone!
I highly suggest that you involve a few Very Close friends/family. Keep them informed, so that you have people to cheer you on as you progress! Please! You deserve A LOT of credit for making this happen. You can do it- but please find support Before you begin your journey. You will need your loved ones to take care of you with lots of love and care while you get this “poison” out of your system. People who want to argue with you, give you stress, etc- CUT them out of your life!! If Effexor withdrawal is a catalyst to ending bad relationships, or even figuring out who really Really loves, cares, and is especially kind, Then there is something good that has come from this horrible experience. But- as my Dr says. Avoid making life changing decisions during this process.
Bless You!!
The Plan- Which I am in the midst of trying.
• Water. Our bodies are approximately 70% water. What better way to help rid the body of Years of Toxins.
• Advil/Motrin. Anti-Inflammatory drugs. Not addictive. Helps with head and body aches.
• Tylenol. Non- addictive. Will help with Fevers!! – and the sweating
• More Water.
• Frozen Pedialite Popsicles 1X’s every 6 hours. These are so that your body isn’t depleted of electrolytes by drinking so much water.
• Sleep!! Okay, it may be extremely difficult to sleep while detoxing your body from Effexor XR. Here is what is helping me. Benadryl, Ativan, and warm Milk (if you can stomach it)
• Benadryl 2 pills 2X’s per day
• Ativan – Talk to your Doctor about this one. – you will need a script
• Egg Yolks
• Healthy food, but if you need junk food- GO FOR IT!!!
• Try to exercise. Okay, you may be thinking- I can’t even stand up right now because I am so nausea and dizzy; but IT WILL HELP SO MUCH! Do not push more than 5/10/15/20 minutes of exercise. But really try to even do pushups. Walk down the block. Stretch.
• Have Lots of good TV, Movies, Magazines, (although reading may be extremely difficult)
• Do not try to socialize. Just rest as much as possible, BUT
• IF YOU ARE NOT SLEEPING, - Then Stay OUT of your bedroom- Not just your bed.
• Try to shower 3-4 times per day.
• Blueberries!!
• Omega 3/6/9 Fish Oil!!
• B Complex Vitamins
• Try to stay cool. Set the air conditioning on Very cold. Turn on the fans, turn lights out.
• Put cold wet washcloths on your forehead
• Stay away from diet products!!! (your body is trying to detox) – keep away from Fake sugars
• If you are urinating every 10 minutes, then you are on the right track!! Keep drinking Water!
• Don’t be afraid to cry your eyes out. It is a side effect of coming off of this medication.
• Read eat sleep breathe The Secret. Buy the book, the DVD and the CD’s. Listen watch and read!
• You will need to sleep. Sleep as much as possible. The only thing that is more important than sleep is drinking Water. Plain water!! Not fruit water – Not flavored water.
I will Post an update in a few days as to how I am doing…

I've been on Effexor XR 225mg a day for 8 years. I too have tried quiting several times but the withdraw is horrible. I have gone through heroin withdraw and methadone withdraw. Effexor's withdraw in my personal opinion is way worse and I want off but can't because of the brain and eyeball shocks, shaking, and of course the complete confusion. I hate this medication and don't suggest it for anyone. If your doctor wants to put you on it refuse. Hopefully one day they will find something to help detox people off of this drug. I even called my local pharmacy and was told the withdraw could possibly last up to 18 months. It has stolen a lot from me and the benefits of this drug do not out way the advantages of it. The only reason I haven't stopped it is because the withdraw is two much to bare after the first week and a half. Do not take this drug, you will regret it. I hate this med.>;)

I realise this post isnt exactly active at the moment but never the less i'll explain my experience.

Alot of the forums/medical sights i read all seem to have a very negatvie opnion of Efexor XR. I began taking it 3 months ago to deal with anxiety, i was on 75mg and found that it was a great help. Within a couple of days i noticed a vast difference in concentration and was finally able to sleep again.

I'm at a point now where i've been off efexor for 4 days (without my doctors concent) and i'm finding that the most major side effect i am experiencing is a full body numbness/dizziness & slight nausia. Other then that i'm having a little bit of trouble concentrating but thats mostly it. I havent experienced any head zaps or cramps, no extreme dizziness or depression/anxiety.

I do understand that i have only been on the drug for a short time and that my dosage is relatively low, but from my experience i found that it was a great drug, worth every cent, and it got me through a point in my life i would have otherwise had a lot of trouble dealing with.

I am 31 years old and next week will start tapering off of 300mg Effexor XR which I have been taking for the past 5 years. I have had no side effects from Effexor XR that I am aware of. A brief background: I can look back and see signs that I had anxiety when I was a child. When I was 13 I developed OCD. I guess the stress of trying to hide my OCD for 6 years caused my depression, which I was diagnosed with when I was 19 years old and finally sought help for the OCD. I started taking Prozac at 20 years old and it was truly a wonder drug. I started to truly live for the first time in my life. After a year my doctor wanted to taper me off the Prozac to see if I could go without it. Two months after being off it I had what I thought was a relapse of depression. After reading different forums I now wonder if it was just basic withdrawal symptoms. After about 2 weeks I was switched to Paxil. Again it worked great and I took it for 5 years. At age 26 I decided to lower my dose of Paxil on my own (a big mistake, never do anything with prescription medications without the watchful eye of a doctor, specifically a psychiatrist). I had a possible hypomanic episode that lead me to believe I didn't need the antidepressant as much anymore. 3 or 4 months after I tapered down to half of my previous dose of Paxil I spiraled into a depression I had never known and hope to never know again. It was the lowest point of my life. I had to quit a new job because there is just no way to explain an episode of major depression to a boss you've only had for two months. I stayed at home for 3 months, rarely leaving. Thank goodness I had kind parents who helped me through this hellish time. I'd never been suicidal, but at that point I didn't want to live. The addition of Welbutrin did nothing. Eventually I was switched to Effexor XR. I could feel it working, but not enough. I asked one more time if I could go up a dose and that is how I ended up at 300 mg. Also during this time I took a low dose of Xanax which I remained on for 2 years. So why rock the boat when I'm sailing smoothly. I would like to start a family and do not want to be on antidepressants during pregnancy if I can help it. I've bought many different books to search for the knowledge and courage to get me ready to do this. I have a good psychiatrist and a new psychologist to see once a week. It's just that now that I know that withdrawal can look like an episode of depression how is anyone supposed to know the difference if it should happen? Monday is the day...4 days from now. If you read this, please keep me in your prayers. We are all stronger than we know.

If you can dissuade anyone from taking any anti-depressant, dissuade them, and be mean about it. It's not worth it. I spent my life avoiding being addicted to drugs, just to find out, everything your doc prescribes you, is just that, only legal. If you take dramamine, b12 complex, fish oil and a couple aspirin, you will get over a lot of it in a hurry. I am waiting for the horrid mood swings to just go away, but at least I feel, it's just a bit too fast, but better than being an android that smiles a lot and can't think anymore clearly than a mudbath. I'm glad to be off of it, and glad I went cold turkey, never ever ever again, will I use anything like that just to calm down, I won't avoid the problems anymore, I'll face them. Don't take anything even remotely like this horrid excuse for assistance with insomnia or adult adhd....just learn to love what you do and live with it. Sleep when you can, yell when you have to, and realize these drugs are worse than the symptoms and the problem.

I am so relieved (though obviously not pleased) to hear that other people have had the 'electric shock' type sensation coming off Efexor. I couldn't even work out how to describe it to my doctor - like tiny waves of voltage/dizziness/totaly mind blank pain.

How do you guys solve the no sleeping problem? And have any of you had really awful graphic nightmares? Also, this is kindof an embarrasing question, but have any of you had any kind of.. involuntary orgasm-type feelings?

 

I gave in today and took an Effexor. I just couldn't take the brain-shocks and shakes anymore. I asked my mom to put it somewhere I can't get to it so I won't be tempted. My doctor never said it wasn't addictive but these withdrawals are the worst I've ever felt. I've never felt so sick in my life, not even when I had tonsilitis, or a dead lymphnode, or mononucleosis. I can't understand why my doctor prescribed it to me in the first place when it has so many side-effects. Even when I was on it, I felt so dead and lacked energy all the time. Whenever I missed a dose I was snappy, irritable, weepy and generally emotionally screwed up. Now that I'm off it, these withdrawals are a nightmare. I've made a list of things to try based on other's suggestions and hopefully they will help. I tried the Omega 3 fish oil pills and those seemed to help a tiny bit with the brain-shocks. I took Tylenol as well but still woke up in a cold sweat. Hopefully sleeping downstairs, keeping the heat off and opening the windows will solve that. I never want to take another drug like Effexor ever in my life. I have research to do on my new medication so I'm prepared if it screws with my life like the Effexor has. I missed four days once when I was taking it regularly, and it was literally pure Hell. Nothing helped, not exercise, not food, nothing. When I got home (I was on a trip with a friend), I asked my mom to take me to the doctor so they could give it to me through I.V and I'd get over my withdrawals faster. She said they didn't do I.V with that kind of medication and I burst into tears. That's how bad it was. I wouldn't wish this kind of thing on anyone, and I feel for those who are experiencing the same thing I am. May God give us strength to get through this. God bless and good health to all.

Kari, Washington, 17

May God lead you here to help you understand that you are not alone...I thought I was with all the Zzzzzzt  Zzzzzzzzzzzt Zzzzzzzzzt going on in my head, my hands, my brain feeling like it was sloshing around in my skull, I NEVER in a million years would of thought getting off an anti-depressant would be this much agony.  Like everyone else on here and like all the posts you have already read, don't even bother with the Dr.'s or 6 figure salesmen as I like to call them.....they have not a clue, they push pills for a living....most do not even have ANY NUTRITIONAL training whatsoever.  Watch a movie / documentary on Netflix or any similar called "Food Matters" -- it will change your life.   Anyway, back to this withdraw BS......it is BRUTAL......I found a local 'headshop' they like to call them and found the herb KRATOM.......the stuff I found was in capsule form 15Mg each.....they were $25 for about 15-20 pills......I took one...waited 30 min.......the head shocks subsided some, but not gone....I took another one and it DID subside somewhat, but was still lingering, but tolerable.  I tried the Benadryl as someone stated.......didn't work......HOWEVER - I did read another post in this group where the lady said she stayed away from sugars and caffeine.....I TRULY BELIEVE that is the trick folks......I started drinking water this afternoon and have not stopped, it has helped with the head shocks, but all other symptoms -- irritability, sleeplessness, itching........I'm 48 hours into being FREE from this awful drug I have been on for 6 years........I will never ever, do this again to my body........I'm working out 4 days a week now, I'm eating nothing but healthy foods, no fast food, and when I do go out...I stick with chicken and salad.........My conclusion thus far:  Kratom, Benadryl, tylenol, motrin, --- whatever you are trying.......all of our bodies are going to react different to all this stuff, based on our chemical make up........stick with water, peeing every 20 min, and like someone said in an earlier post....you are on the right track, and remember, "this too shall pass"  --- WE CAN DO THIS!!!!  God Bless You!!!!   SJC  

Hi Irona,

We are starting a class action suit against Effexor if you would like to join in. Let us know. A lawyer will only charge if he wins the case. There are many of us who have suffered horribly from this drug. I was able to get off of it by taking out 1 bead less everyday. I am also on some natural things from a naturopathic dr. I am taking her remedies for depression and anxiety and they are really helping. I'm sorry you have gone through so much. Please contact us through this site. Terry P.

 

 

I don't know who posted about the lawsuit, but I need in please. I am a 45 year old femail and I have been expieriencing severe Angina - Heart attack symptoms as a result of stopping Effexor XR after 9 years. The highest dosage I took was 225mg and I weaned myself completely off as of June 11, 2012. Since then I have been spending a fortune on tests/pills to figure out why I am so sick all the time. My whole body aches, extreme dizziness (have fallen down several times), kidney pain, groin pain and of course the Angina that is scaring the c**p out of me. Am going to insist the doc order a Heart Cath test next week just to rule out the heart issue. I am drinking about 60oz of icewater per day and that does help. I'm so glad to see there are others out there with similar issues. I have always been an anxious person, but the anxiety is far easier to deal with than these withdrawals.