I've been taking 5-HTP for years along with my antidepressants. I don't notice it helping with the withdrawals, but it is good for elevating moods.
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Diagnosed in the mid-90s with genetic depression, I've been mostly on all sorts of antidepressants. I started on 37.5 of effexor XR, for a week while I came off Zoloft (which wasn't working). My nurse practitioner upped me to 75 after a week or so--stayed on it for a month before my NP upped it to 150. I wasn't thrilled as the side-effect were god awful (my cholesterol went up, as did my weight, constipated, etc.). After a month, I told him I wanted to go back to 75 mg, which I did for another 30 days, then back to 37.5 mg for another two weeks. I'm now taking nothing, (6 days now) and the withdrawal symptoms began as soon as I went from 150 to 75, and have continued non-stop. The brain zaps, vertigo, nausea are continuing, and the only thing I find helpful is CBD oil (2:1 with THC). Luckily, I live in a state where cannabis is legal for medicinal AND recreational uses. I take all the supplements, which only increases my nausea unless I have a full stomach. The flu-like symptoms have eased slightly, but I'm exhausted all the time, get headaches every afternoon, and don't feel even close to normal until bedtime. Luckily, I'm retired, so I don't have to get up and go to work. Will the brain zapping last? I've heard nightmares they can go on for years!
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I was given Effexor XR 75 mg not for depression but for help with hot flashes. I was on this for 3 months and it did absolutely nothing for my hot flashes. My Dr. gave me a week of Effexor XR 37.5 mg to wean me off. OH MY GOSH! This has been a horrible experience! I had vomiting the first night off of this medicine. For the first week I felt like I was having an outerbody experience. My emotions have been all over the place (this is something I am not used to). This medication is horrible! I have been debating about taking a week of vacation to sleep and pray when I wake up everything is back to normal. The only problem with that is my husband doesn't understand what my body is going through and I wouldn't get the rest I need. I have been taking daily vitamins, fish oil, just anything I have read that helps. How long does this craziness last? I want or actually need to get back to being myself. I work in HR and it sucks having to interview candidates for a job when your brain isn't functioning properly. If there is anything natural (no more prescriptions for me) that works to ease this withdrawal process please someone let me know.
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I've been on a very slow taper off of Effexor XR for about about a year, starting Wellbutrin at the same.
No problem from 300 to 150 to 75mg. One month at each dosage. I see my psychiatrist once a month and he was fine with this. However I've been taking 37.5 mg for a long time, months and months after I was fully on the Wellbutrin. This dosage does nothing except keep the side effects of withdrawal at bay -- tinnitus. vertigo, brain zaps, dizziness, sweating, and balance issues.
This weekend I just said efff it and didn't refill my prescription. For the past 4 days I'm having these withdrawal symptoms. I figure it's time to get off of this. The Wellbutrin works and I couldn't see myself taking 37.5 mg forever. Tapering down from that just doesn't make sense as that's the lowest dose. Also I have tried skipping a day and got the same side effects so I figured what the hell?
I already take omega-3s, B-Right complex and get some exercise, though of course not enough. Hope the symptoms disappear within the next two weeks. Thankfully I don't have to go to work every day.
I also take a medication for ADHD and binge eating disorder and thankfully, the binge eating disorder has decrease to around 10%. I also gain weight on effexor and I've lost all but a couple of pounds of what I gained.
For me the two week tapering off at each dosage just didn't work, I knew that from trialling both Lexapro and Celexa. These turn me into a zombie for 6 months until I started taking Effexor.
No problem from 300 to 150 to 75mg. One month at each dosage. I see my psychiatrist once a month and he was fine with this. However I've been taking 37.5 mg for a long time, months and months after I was fully on the Wellbutrin. This dosage does nothing except keep the side effects of withdrawal at bay -- tinnitus. vertigo, brain zaps, dizziness, sweating, and balance issues.
This weekend I just said efff it and didn't refill my prescription. For the past 4 days I'm having these withdrawal symptoms. I figure it's time to get off of this. The Wellbutrin works and I couldn't see myself taking 37.5 mg forever. Tapering down from that just doesn't make sense as that's the lowest dose. Also I have tried skipping a day and got the same side effects so I figured what the hell?
I already take omega-3s, B-Right complex and get some exercise, though of course not enough. Hope the symptoms disappear within the next two weeks. Thankfully I don't have to go to work every day.
I also take a medication for ADHD and binge eating disorder and thankfully, the binge eating disorder has decrease to around 10%. I also gain weight on effexor and I've lost all but a couple of pounds of what I gained.
For me the two week tapering off at each dosage just didn't work, I knew that from trialling both Lexapro and Celexa. These turn me into a zombie for 6 months until I started taking Effexor.
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For me one of those side effects of taking Effexor was sweating, specifically night sweats. That just doesn't make sense! Since I stopped look at the very low dosage I was taking a few days ago I have experienced sweating but just during the day.
What works very well for the many life disrupting perimenopausal symptoms i had over more years than i wanted was prescribed hormone therapy. I was given a cream that I fill out a compounding pharmacy and it works very well. Being a cream, it doesn't affect my liver. I am well into menopause and still have hot flashes so I still take it.
What works very well for the many life disrupting perimenopausal symptoms i had over more years than i wanted was prescribed hormone therapy. I was given a cream that I fill out a compounding pharmacy and it works very well. Being a cream, it doesn't affect my liver. I am well into menopause and still have hot flashes so I still take it.
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I'm 2 days off effexor XR. I've been on it for almost 2 years for general anxiety disorder. This drug worked wonders for my anxiety, however it has caused a sack of unfortunate other symptoms. The worst being weight gain, almost 40 pounds in 1.5 years. I've never struggled with weight, always been a healthy eater and frequent gym goer.
I have weaned myself from 150mg to 37.5 mg and now I'm about 2 and a bit days since I took my last pill. I'm scared, the dizziness is unbearable. I feel like I'm drunk, and my eyes will not focus. The brain zaps and odd trailing feeling I get when I move my head are so bizarre.
I'm taking omega 3 fish oil, magnesium, vitamin D and B12 and I'm trying pseudoephedrine (sudafed)
I hope to feel better soon, how do you explain the withdrawals to loved ones?
This is so awful.
I have weaned myself from 150mg to 37.5 mg and now I'm about 2 and a bit days since I took my last pill. I'm scared, the dizziness is unbearable. I feel like I'm drunk, and my eyes will not focus. The brain zaps and odd trailing feeling I get when I move my head are so bizarre.
I'm taking omega 3 fish oil, magnesium, vitamin D and B12 and I'm trying pseudoephedrine (sudafed)
I hope to feel better soon, how do you explain the withdrawals to loved ones?
This is so awful.
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I am trying to get off this as well. I only take 37.5 mg now but it is really hard. My stomach is causing me so much problems from taking it that I've got to do something. My doctor told me it's one of the most difficult depression medicine to get off.
When I skip just one day I am dizzy and nauseous. It affects my memory as well while taking it. I don't care how I look or want to do anything and that has never ever been me. I struggle to keep going each day even taking the medicine. So something has to give. So glad to know I''m not the only one that has experienced the same problem.
Mary Ann
When I skip just one day I am dizzy and nauseous. It affects my memory as well while taking it. I don't care how I look or want to do anything and that has never ever been me. I struggle to keep going each day even taking the medicine. So something has to give. So glad to know I''m not the only one that has experienced the same problem.
Mary Ann
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I'm now into week 6 of no effexor. I'm still having the mind zaps; I still feel crappy all over, running the gamut to feeling hungry to feeling nauseated. I'm also exhausted all the time, and careen from being able to sleep for hours to having the worst insomnia where I'm lucky if I can get to sleep before 5 in the morning. I have nearly constant headaches, and OTC meds don't really help.
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Adrian- I ran out of my meds this week- have been on Effexor for about 3 years now taking 250 mg. Reading all the similar situations is giving me some hope. I’m on day 4 and my God I can’t function I feel horrible vertigo and Brain zaps are the worst. I can’t keep food down and can’t comcentrate for the life of me.
God I need to get back to normal
God I need to get back to normal
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I can totally relate. You explain the symptoms so well. I got really scared when I missed a dosage because I got so sick. I begged the doctor to help me ween off the meds and she helped with some multiVitamins, D3 and fish oil but it took me months to drop from 150 mg. I didnt know I could take more than a 1000 mg capsule of fish oil but if it helps I will take more. I stopped taking the smallest 37.5 mg 3 days ago and so far fevers and flu like symptoms as you describe. When my symptoms finally go away and I get my energy back I can go back for blood work. I really don't mind the crying spells anymore and I am seeing my therapist. Exercise helps alot. I've learned my lesson. Thank you for posting your experiences. I hope your doing better.
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So, you're on "Day 26 off Effexor"----but that was a YEAR ago. So, what happened? Please help all of us out here in the misery of Withdrawal...... What was your outcome? Even if it was not good, it would help us to know that....And if it was good, you could do all of us a great deal of good, by telling us the Withdrawal finally WITHDREW! Please follow-up your message.
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Was on 150 mg of venlafaxine for 12 years. Tapered off over 12says. No withdrawal symptoms. Apparently only about 5% of folk get symptoms withdrawing.
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Evil it is Tammy. Went cold turkey yesterday,(75mg for 3 weeks) and I am going through actual Hell! I pray that I get better soon. I will not return to that POISON!
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Thank you, I'm on day 4 without it and I just sent my husband to get me the omega3 fish oil capsules. I'm looking for some relief. This is a nightmare I so can't wait for it to be over. I called the doctor to see what else I could do to help with the symptoms and she told me to take an Effexor every other day to help ease and relieved the symptoms really isn't that like telling an alcoholic to have a beer it'll make you feel better. I never want to go through this again I'm not taking that pill.
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