I'm grateful I found this site. It helps to know I'm not alone in experiencing these withdrawal symptoms. I've been on Effexor RX going on 5 years and have spent the past month tapering from 150 mg to 75 mg and last night down to 37.5 mg. So far my side effects have been... a week of headaches, a couple crying spells, a day of dizziness (like if I moved to fast my brain would lag behind a few minutes and get dizzy trying to catch up), 1 very bad anxiety attack, and swollen fingers. I experienced the "brain zaps" which actually felt like my heart was being zapped while on the 150 mg.
I'm praying for the Lord to sustain me through this and will be praying for all of you too. It will get better.
I'm praying for the Lord to sustain me through this and will be praying for all of you too. It will get better.
I am really new at this so please bear with me. I need some info from you all about what to expect. I have been on 300 mg of effexor a day for 5 years. I just lost my insurance, and so i am faced with quitting cold turkey. I have called many pharmacies and they won't even tell me what to expect...they just tell me to not do it that way. I have no medicine left, and today was my first day without it. I know that I am on a high dosage amount, but can it really be life threatening to stop cold turkey? I have called my doc nonstop since yesterday and have not gotten one phone call back. Please..anyone with experience with this contact me!
Hi Fefers,
You will be ok. It won't be easy but you will get through it. It would be good if you could get ahold of your doctor just so they know what is going on. You will probably start feeling the effects of coming off it in a day or two. I know it's different for everyone but it will probably feel like the flu with a bad headache and last quite awhile. Praying for you.
You will be ok. It won't be easy but you will get through it. It would be good if you could get ahold of your doctor just so they know what is going on. You will probably start feeling the effects of coming off it in a day or two. I know it's different for everyone but it will probably feel like the flu with a bad headache and last quite awhile. Praying for you.
Had been on 150 for 10 years. Used 3 week withdrawal 112.5 - 75 - 37.5 . Considering the resulting symptoms may have needed a longer reduction period. Natural pharmacist recommended , holy basil ( I took up to 6 tabs daily ) along w/ vitB complex 12 (I took 3 daily for 3 days) than twice for week , than 1 for daily supplement . Postings by others on this site suggested omega 3 , but I was already taking 2000mg anyway, so not sure if there was any affect. Minimal but noticeable intensity reduction of the "zaps" within 24-36hrs . "ZAPS" intensity got less with time. So 5 days into using holy basil and B12 complex , my head is feeling better , though symptoms still persist. Given how bad they were , leaning towards thinking the basil and vitamins really did help getting through the symptoms. Given the positive results I've had from former recommendations by my "natural" pharmacist . I definitely recommend giving them a try. Know that it will get better . If you drink alcohol , try staying away for a while , you're brain is already giving you an extreme feeling. Good Luck and thanks to everyone whose posts help make my transition off this piece of c**p drug a lot easier to achieve. When you're finally free of this nightmare( oh yea , there were some of those and insomnia too) and feeling better , treat yourself to something fun , you ' ve earned it .
Side note - if you've ever experienced intense joint pain ( I had severe tendonitis in my hip last winter , could not walk or even move my left leg without outrageously intense pain and limped for months) My" nat " pharmicist recommended Curamin . Amazing , within 2 weeks I was pain free.My Nat Pharm Rocks!
Side note - if you've ever experienced intense joint pain ( I had severe tendonitis in my hip last winter , could not walk or even move my left leg without outrageously intense pain and limped for months) My" nat " pharmicist recommended Curamin . Amazing , within 2 weeks I was pain free.My Nat Pharm Rocks!
Day 26 off Effexor.
I've been reading these posts all along and came across one who wondered what happened to people who had been off for more than a couple of weeks, did they go back? Were they okay? So here's my experience thusfar:
Week 1 wasn't awful, weeks 2 and 3 were the worst, and week 4 is shaping up okay. All of the same stuff that everyone reports throughout this forum. I still feel dizzy and nauseaus--late morning seems to be the worst--but the dreaded brain zaps have reduced, as has the homicidal rage. I have a hard time concentrating on anything for any length of time and I'm physically exhausted. And I've been highly heat sensitive--I can go up or down stairs in my home and really feel temperature differences. In short, the whole thing blows. It's awful.
BUT
It might be tempting to consider going back on the drug, but don't. You've come this far. Try to be kind to yourself. Don't trust your thoughts right now--your brain is under assault and is in a flying rage. I benefitted from Benadryl, Omega 3-6-9s, B vitamins, and drinking lots of water (Gatorade, whatever).
Don't hate the doctors--mine are great and even they haven't a clue about the effects of *not* taking this drug until I tell them. The drug companies pay for studies of side effects of being on the drug and extrapolate to what must happen when no longer taking it using half life info., etc. I don't wish my doctors this feeling, but I tell them everything because that's the only way they'll know for the next poor slob who goes through this--or maybe they'll consider prescribing something else based on my feedback to them.
Anyway, I've come this far so I'm not turning back, but the symptoms have not disappeared even 3+ weeks out. I took Effexor XR for five years, was up to 300 mg/day, and tapered off over two months.
Don't give up--it won't be easier later, there's no "ideal time" to come off this drug, so you might as well do it now.
I've been reading these posts all along and came across one who wondered what happened to people who had been off for more than a couple of weeks, did they go back? Were they okay? So here's my experience thusfar:
Week 1 wasn't awful, weeks 2 and 3 were the worst, and week 4 is shaping up okay. All of the same stuff that everyone reports throughout this forum. I still feel dizzy and nauseaus--late morning seems to be the worst--but the dreaded brain zaps have reduced, as has the homicidal rage. I have a hard time concentrating on anything for any length of time and I'm physically exhausted. And I've been highly heat sensitive--I can go up or down stairs in my home and really feel temperature differences. In short, the whole thing blows. It's awful.
BUT
It might be tempting to consider going back on the drug, but don't. You've come this far. Try to be kind to yourself. Don't trust your thoughts right now--your brain is under assault and is in a flying rage. I benefitted from Benadryl, Omega 3-6-9s, B vitamins, and drinking lots of water (Gatorade, whatever).
Don't hate the doctors--mine are great and even they haven't a clue about the effects of *not* taking this drug until I tell them. The drug companies pay for studies of side effects of being on the drug and extrapolate to what must happen when no longer taking it using half life info., etc. I don't wish my doctors this feeling, but I tell them everything because that's the only way they'll know for the next poor slob who goes through this--or maybe they'll consider prescribing something else based on my feedback to them.
Anyway, I've come this far so I'm not turning back, but the symptoms have not disappeared even 3+ weeks out. I took Effexor XR for five years, was up to 300 mg/day, and tapered off over two months.
Don't give up--it won't be easier later, there's no "ideal time" to come off this drug, so you might as well do it now.
Hello,
My name is Matt and I was on Effexor 75mg for about three years. First of all I would like to say that it helped me a lot with anxiety brought on by heart issues that I had at the time. It did help me heal and for that I am thankful. I went to counseling for a few months and eventually my counselor told me to try what my doctor recommended which was Effexor. I had a few mild symptoms when I started it and then everything was fine after that. Eventually my doctor and I wanted to try taking me off of it since the treatment timeframe was up. He told me at first to go off of it cold turkey (he thought 75 was a low enough dose to get off of it that way) which I tried for about 4 days. The fourth day I felt like I had severe anxiety problems again and I was also having stomach problems so I started taking it again. Then my doctor recommended doing a taper which I started with 37.5 for a month. I did not experience any symptoms at 37.5mg. Then I started taking the 37.5 every other day for about two weeks. Again I had no real serious symptoms. Then I started doing every three days for a few weeks then every four days. I was going to open the 37.5 capsules to do a longer taper but I decided to just go off of them and I experienced no symptoms at all. I have been off Effexor for almost half a year now and I have no symptoms or anxiety. I think a lot of people want to get off the drug as fast as possible and try to taper off quickly. From my experience it took almost two and a half months to get off the 75mg so if you are at a larger dose and been on it longer, I would think it would take longer (but as they say everyone is different).
There is hope to get off of Effexor and I wanted to share that because few if any posts online were positive when I was looking into getting off the drug. I'm guessing that hasn't really changed since most people who go off and are successful wouldn't be here posting.
~Matt
My name is Matt and I was on Effexor 75mg for about three years. First of all I would like to say that it helped me a lot with anxiety brought on by heart issues that I had at the time. It did help me heal and for that I am thankful. I went to counseling for a few months and eventually my counselor told me to try what my doctor recommended which was Effexor. I had a few mild symptoms when I started it and then everything was fine after that. Eventually my doctor and I wanted to try taking me off of it since the treatment timeframe was up. He told me at first to go off of it cold turkey (he thought 75 was a low enough dose to get off of it that way) which I tried for about 4 days. The fourth day I felt like I had severe anxiety problems again and I was also having stomach problems so I started taking it again. Then my doctor recommended doing a taper which I started with 37.5 for a month. I did not experience any symptoms at 37.5mg. Then I started taking the 37.5 every other day for about two weeks. Again I had no real serious symptoms. Then I started doing every three days for a few weeks then every four days. I was going to open the 37.5 capsules to do a longer taper but I decided to just go off of them and I experienced no symptoms at all. I have been off Effexor for almost half a year now and I have no symptoms or anxiety. I think a lot of people want to get off the drug as fast as possible and try to taper off quickly. From my experience it took almost two and a half months to get off the 75mg so if you are at a larger dose and been on it longer, I would think it would take longer (but as they say everyone is different).
There is hope to get off of Effexor and I wanted to share that because few if any posts online were positive when I was looking into getting off the drug. I'm guessing that hasn't really changed since most people who go off and are successful wouldn't be here posting.
~Matt
I have been on Effexor for about 6 years. At one point the increased me to 225mg! I lowered the dose myself, back to 150. I am done with these pills, and from what ive read, not looking forward to the process! My question is has anyone had to go on any other meds to help with depression or anxiety after discontinuing the meds? I had fairly severe depression when i was prescribed these pills. I'm worried about going back to that person.
I have been taking Effexor since November 2010. I stayed at 112 until September 2010 and then began to decrease but found it too emotionally difficult. I then went up to 150. On Dec. 17,2010 I went down to 112 again. I experienced mild anxiety and a gnawing feeling in my back (which is what it was like in September). I am determined to get off Effexor by the Spring 2011. Today I took my first 75mg capsule. I know that I am going fairly quickly down from 150 to 75mg but my life does not permit me many breaks and I am working part time and will be back to my Master's program in early January 2011. I want to stay at 75mg until April 2011 and then decrease of zero. I understand that the final 37.5 mg and lower is the most challenging so I am preparing through the winter with coping strategies, exercise, food, meditation and art. I will continue to work part time and do my Master's part time. Effexor has been helpful but just over a year is enough. My side efffects have been weight gain of 40pounds ( I don't eat too much and have not ever experienced such a gain before), change in bowel movements/bloating and periodic pain in my head?brain? like little pain shots at the top of my head. I plan to document my experience and share with others. My decrease expereince will be different and similar to others, please take and leave what you would like.
I am feeling the withdrawal. I feel irritated, frustrated and angry. I best that I can do is walk, go to yoga and be alone. Sleep sometimes. I feel sheitty but know that this will pass. In the meantime wait it out. Stop and Breathe. bluebird.
i have been on veneifaxine since august 2007 2009 after my 2nd hospital saty of 5 days i was uped to 225mg !after feelin alot a weight gain n feeling pretty stable n best i felt last 6 months i wanted to come off this medication to something more suttle but as i suffered long term with mood swings which i am now off medicaiton for which i took myself off after findin tht wot make me cosntantly cry last few yrs!after seein my gp she was very weary of my request as only been stable for 6 months out of last few yrs n not wantin to rock the boat,but however she did agree to reduce it 3 monthly n see ho it goes by 35.7is it mg
how ever since then not helped from sufferin pmt just befroe this!i been feeling very agittated n agressive,but problem is my divorce papers came thro n had some probs with teenager so not sure if it reduction in medication or few triggers n my constant lack of sleep cos suffer insomnia tht has caused this!
can anyone tell me if when they reduced venifaxine by the 35.something mg if they felt irritable?i been feelin ready to knock someones block off last few days n dont wanna go bk feelin n bein like the old me before i got this stable!
can anyone shed some light on my quieries and anyone got some advice?also unlike me when i been exercisin since reduction of meds been doin crossfit since just b4 reduce meds well 2 to 3 weeks before i feel sick durin workout when never used to could tht b todo with reduction or just coinsedince cos i worked hard!
how ever since then not helped from sufferin pmt just befroe this!i been feeling very agittated n agressive,but problem is my divorce papers came thro n had some probs with teenager so not sure if it reduction in medication or few triggers n my constant lack of sleep cos suffer insomnia tht has caused this!
can anyone tell me if when they reduced venifaxine by the 35.something mg if they felt irritable?i been feelin ready to knock someones block off last few days n dont wanna go bk feelin n bein like the old me before i got this stable!
can anyone shed some light on my quieries and anyone got some advice?also unlike me when i been exercisin since reduction of meds been doin crossfit since just b4 reduce meds well 2 to 3 weeks before i feel sick durin workout when never used to could tht b todo with reduction or just coinsedince cos i worked hard!
I just want to say that Effexor XR helped me through the darkest part of my life. It truly was an amazing transformation from the girl who had panic attacks and cut herself to the calm and collected girl I had always been before. I have been on Effexor XR 150 mg for almost 6 years now. With the help of my doctor, we decided it was a good time to try to get off of them. I just started the tapering process and am almost done with week 1, which was 3 37.5 mg tablets a day. Day five of the tapering, I began feeling nauseous and the whole zap thing, but it wasn't as intense as when I would accidentally forget to take my pill. I also found that I would be sitting there at work and all of the sudden be starving! During my time on Effexor I have gained 60 lbs. I am on a mission to kick my endorphins on and make it to being Effexor free. The withdrawals are minor compared to the effects depression had on my life. ***edited by moderator*** web addresses not allowed I picked up some Omega 3 tonight. The benadryl is also waiting. My mom is also sending me a bottle of Vemma, we compared to the JNK Liquid Boost that The Road Back talks about for weight loss. Can't wait to see what happens. Here is to my new life! Thank you to Effexor for helping me through my toughest times.
I am about to try tapering off and these posts haven't exactly filled me with confidence. I was hoping it might be relatively easy if done over a few months. But it sounds like I'm going to go through the "zaps" (although what I get sounds more like the "whooshing" of a very fast car going past my ear), dizziness and all the other horrible symptoms I've had when I've forgotten to take the thing for a couple of days. Can't wait!
Anyway, it's gotta be done as I've gained about 20kgs since I started on Effexor (150mg) about five or six years ago. I did come off it once, quite by accident, and had no trouble but I'd only been on the drug for a year or so then. The result was a relapse into serious anxiety and panic attacks a few months later - combined with a bout of giardia - causing me to lose about 15kgs I really thought I was about to die :-S Horrible.
I've just opened up one of the capsules to remove around 20 percent - as per my doctor's advice and found that there's a shitload of minute little balls in there and they are of different sizes. God knows how I'm supposed to accurately reduce this. Any tips would be appreciated :-)
OMG you just describe everything im going through. When did your symptoms finally stop?
I have been on this nasty drug for about 7 years. I was taking 150 mg a day. I decided to stop cold turkey 4 days ago. The first 2 days were fine then day3 hit with a vengenance. These brain zaps are the worst. I did not see how withdrawing slowly would be any better. To me it seems like putting off the ineviatable. Can anyone tell me how long these damn zaps will last and if there is any long term side affects from them.
This is the drug from hell and it should never ever be prescribed again!!!!!!
I'm 17 years old and I've been on Effexor for over a year. I reduced slowly from 150 mg to 37.5, with 1-2 months between lowering each dosage. Each time, I experienced some headaches and dizziness.
I went off completely 2 days ago and was told by my psychiatrist that I would unlikely suffer any withdrawal symptoms, but that I might have some minor ones.
At the moment, it is midnight. I can't sleep. Waves of pain are assaulting the inside of my forehead and every muscle in my body is tense. I can't walk properly. I'm constantly dizzy and my vision keeps jumping. My pulse is pounding like I just ran a marathon. My head feels like it's about to explode.
If you're reading this looking to start this medication, I don't recommend it. There are tons of anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications out there. Stay away from this one.
I went off completely 2 days ago and was told by my psychiatrist that I would unlikely suffer any withdrawal symptoms, but that I might have some minor ones.
At the moment, it is midnight. I can't sleep. Waves of pain are assaulting the inside of my forehead and every muscle in my body is tense. I can't walk properly. I'm constantly dizzy and my vision keeps jumping. My pulse is pounding like I just ran a marathon. My head feels like it's about to explode.
If you're reading this looking to start this medication, I don't recommend it. There are tons of anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications out there. Stay away from this one.