I stopped Effexor cold turkey (because i gained so much weight within the short 6 months of being on the drug) and thought i was dying due to the crazy withdrawal symptoms. Your post helped me immensely! After reading your post in the middle of the night, I went to the vitamin store the very next day and purchased B-Complex and Omega-3 (fish oil) Complex. Per your instructions, I took B-Complex once a day and the Omega-3 a few times a day. That mixed with lots of hydration cured me!!! In only 4 days the symptoms have started to subside. Although I am not out of the woods entirely, I feel 80% better than I did before taking those vitamins. Thank you for you post!
I stopped Effexor cold turkey (because i gained so much weight within the short 6 months of being on the drug) and thought i was dying due to the crazy withdrawal symptoms (brain shivers, the sweats, vertigo, disorientation, fatigue). After reading your post in the middle of the night, I went to the vitamin store the very next day and purchased B-Complex and Omega-3 (fish oil) Complex. I took B-Complex twice a day (at breakfast and lunch) and the Omega-3 three times a day. That mixed with LOTS of hydration, cured me!!! Almost immediately (within 1-2 days) the symptoms started to subside. Although I am not out of the woods entirely (its been 5 days since i started taking the vitamins), I feel 90% better than I did before taking those vitamins. Who knew such a simple fix could take away such horrendous symptoms. Thank you for you post!
I have been effexorxr 150mg for 10 years. I decided I am done with it. There are so many natural homeopathic meds, and I am transitioning away from a lot of otc medication and this as well.
Two day off effexor, cold turkey, I was jittery, down to my core. The zaps started (had NO idea what THEY were) I too had the insane dreams!!! I jumped on the internet and started to read. The best article I found was about taking a top of the line Omega 3/6/9 softgel, a Super complex B vitamin along with a daily vitamin and ibruprofen, as needed. I took 5 (omegas, at a time for the first few days (a couple times a day) This took all my symptoms down to a 1/2. Zaps were totally eliminated. I am Day 5 and reducing only the omegas. I take 3 a couple times a day.
Ten years on a medication that has documented, crazy, withdrawl side effects, and I am feeling practically normal. I'll take practically, for now. :)
fyi, all otc meds/vitamins, etc, are NOT created equal. Do your research. :)
Good Luck!!
Hello Tammy and everyone. I have been reading the post herein this morning because of the symptoms I've been experiencing since yesterday which includes all of the symptoms that have been mentioned in this thread; with the exception of the skin sensitivity. I'm glad to know that I'm not alone however, I hate that others are and have been experiencing these horrible symptoms. I also hate that my neurologist ever prescribed this medication and that I didn't do my own research on it before agreeing to take it. It was prescribed as an everyday maintenance to help aid in preventing my migraine headaches. I ran out of them this past wkend, no more refills and have not taken any all week and yesterday is when I started feeling all these symptoms. I will not continue on them and I am waiting on that doctor's nurse to call me back. I truly believe that Effexor needs to be taken off the market. It did not help with my migraines and the side effects when I initially started taking it and since I haven't have been taking it have simply been horrible. Prayerfully over time, and not that much time, our brain functions will return to normal as well as our day to day lives.
I wish you the best and pray that the Lord will bless you as well with wholeness, health and healing now and always.
Jen
I am currently on day 6, dropped cold turkey off of, Effexor 150. Psychiatrist refused to refill until I see her again in 2 weeks! I was told to go to ER if I had to! After living this Hell, I refuse to ever touch this Poison ever again.
I will continue to fight and will make it through,
You can do it too! Be strong! God Bless
I am 7 weeks pregnant and just over 2 weeks ago my doctor advised me that venlafaxine has been shown to dramatically increase birth defects, particularly in the first trimester, and so I should take 2 weeks to detox from 150mgs to nothing. Her exact words when I told her I was scared because when I'd missed a days medication I felt like I was dying, were "they are just withdrawal symptoms and nothing to worry about". These words have done nothing but echo I'm my mind and make me feel a million times worse than I have been, so please do not believe them.
As I write this i am day 2 of zero medication and am bed ridden, crying my eyes out and trying to focus on stopping, even though I feel completely powerless to do so. I spent the morning walking around my house in a panick attack fuel state teeing to figure out what to do to make myself feel better without freaking out my 8 year old daughter who is still on school holidays. In the space of a few minutes I had managed to burn myself on the kettle, lose the lid to my hot water bottle and have a complete breakdown over that, as it is the only thing that eases my stomach aches, vomit all over my bathroom all while crying like a lunatic and begging my husband to come home even though I know he can not.
Over the past few days I have been experiencing the horrific nausea, dizziness, brain zaps, physical jitters, shivering by day and sweating all night while battling the most vivid and horrific night terrors that even when awake I can not shake. Last night my husband and I fought and I cried like I have not since a child and I thought the anxiety I was feeling would never subside. Eventually I feel asleep, praying that when I woke, I would feel better. I did not. In fact I felt even more frightened and alone and anxious than I did the day I asked for help and was put on this drug.
I understand that the intense stomach cramps and nausea is also coming from the morning sickness that is common in the first trimester, but the nausea that I'm experiencing in my head is not something that I can even find better words for than that to explain.
I wanted to tell my story because earlier today I messaged my husband, once I could see through my blinding migraine to use my phone, telling him that I didn't want to be pregnant anymore. That I couldn't do this. That I was terrified of myself and how I was feeling and i wanted to die. I didn't think those words would ever come out my mouth, but they did. And i meant them. So i guess part of me wants to say thank you to all those who have shared their stories, it has given me huge perspective that I'm not crazy or having a nervous breakdown, nor am I alone in feeling the way I am. I want to also tell anyone else who is pregnant and going through this, that your are not alone. Or a bad person for feeling the way you do about wanting to end everything just so the mental and physical pain will stop. I'm not going to give up. And neither should you. From everything I've researched today, it seems that things will get better, even if things feel worse during this first stage. You're not weak even though you feel it. In fact to be going through this and still fighting and looking for hope and positivity makes you a warrior. And that is what I'm going to cling to over the next few days. For myself and for my baby. Kia kaha everyone.