What could help with Effexor withdrawal?

my ears also ring all the time ever since i hhave stopped effexor! thank you for helping me not feel alone lol

i litterally feel the same way.. like i am having the struggle deciding wether or not to punch everyone around me or myself. its like everyone else is crazy or I'm just insane ...

jackson

I have been on effexor for 2 years. I started tapering off of the med as directed by my doctor. However I am now completely off and I feel like at any moment I will lose my sanity. I have brain zaps which actually go through my entire body. My family has suffered because of my "meltdowns" "temper tantrums" and I'm to the point where I just want to go back on them, so I feel some what normal again. I have managed to keep myself in check at work but I honestly don't know how long that will last. My wonderful boyfriend did research and found that taking a multivitamin rich in B (take 2 when I get up) , Omega Fish Oil 1200 mg(twice a day) and Ginko 120mg (once a day) during the day help with the side affects. I also take Valerian root (5 at 450mg each night)  to help sleep. Some days are really good and some days I just want to lock myself in my bedroom. This is NO life for a person. It helps to see others with the same issues. My shrink has suggested that I see a neurologist because of the zaps through out my body but after reading posts it seems "normal".

I am in the process of weaning off of Effexor after taking it for over a decade. I started it when I was 16-17 for social anxiety (75mg once daily) and I am 31 now.  It worked wonders for me and was seriously a life saver.  I don't know what I would have done without it!  But now I'm in a totally different place (emotionally, mentally, etc), trying for a 2nd child, and I want to make sure there are no pregnancy risks.  I talked to my doc (a GP, not a psychiatrist) and have been weaning off with guidance.  He advised me to get a pill cutter and just gradually go down to 3/4 a dose, 1/2 a dose, 1/4 a dose, and then nothing.  I took it slowly and it's been just under 2 months since I started weaning.  I've had the withdrawal symptoms so far but I stopped all Effexor 4 days ago and the symptoms are much worse now.  I seem to have escaped these awful brain zaps that people mention (THANK GOODNESS) but I have horrible dizziness, nausea, bizarre dreams, and I almost burst into tears at the drop of a hat.  I also have a weirdly fluctuating body temp - sweating and hot one minute, shivering the next.  I've tried taking a B vitamin (B12) and fish oil, which others have said helps, but it doesn't seem to do much if anything for me.  I am trying to hang in there but I'm considering going back on the 1/4 dose (18.75mg daily) for a while just to ease these awful feelings.  

 

My question is, does anyone on here feel normal again after these withdrawal symptoms???  How long does it take for this to go away?  I think it will help me if I know how long to expect this to last!  Also, what else works to try?  I've read that having a Rx for Prozak or similar med for a month or so can help significantly, and then you can quit the Prozak without problems after a short time.  Has this worked for others?

First off I want to thank you all for your posts because they have been very helpful for me. I have been on Effexor for about a year and have decided to stop, not necessarily because it wasn't working but because I want to be drug free. Recently I went to my Dr to increase it to 150 and as I sat there and listened to her tell me that I needed to calm down I thought, yes I do! We agreed at the visit that I have nothing to be depressed about, I have an awesome family, a brand new grand daughter so I thought, why am I doing this to myself??? It has been difficult to say the least, my husband has been amazing, which makes me want to get off of it even more. I have had the same symptoms as other posts but I am determined to do this. I applaud all of you because it is the hardest thing to go through ever! All of my best to you all, and stay strong because you can beat this. Thank you all for your help, as silly as it may sound, just knowing I am not the only one going through this helps. Good luck to all of you :) 

Holy Cow!!! I thought I was losing my mind! Today is day 6 Effexor free! I'm so glad I found this forum! The brain zaps and shaky vision are by far the worst! I have pain in my right sholder followed by total numbness and heaviness in my cheats, I really thought I was having a heart attack. I'm only 32, came home did some extensive research and I totally agree, Effexor needs to be banned and/or removed from the market! I'm gonna have my hubby get me some of the Omaga 3/6/9 that has been suggested I pray it helps! I'm afraid to drive due to the vision shakiness/blurriness.

I really wish I would've found this site sooner. I was sent home today kuz the withdrawals are so bad.

Posted by struggling on  4/2/13 1:35 PM:

"I am going through this and right now I want to kill someone or have someone kill me or beat me. I hate life. I want to hurt myself. Too bad I promised my daughter I wouldn't kill myself. Someone come beat me, rape me, hurt me."

I'm sure your post seemed really extreme and disturbing to some who read it, but it really breaks my heart because I know what you were enduring when you posted it. I hope you made it through. Your poor daughter must have been terrified. It devastates me to think of one of my parents going through the pain we are/did. I hope you're doing a lot better now.

I extend that same wish to everyone who has posted here in the last few years since the original post. I'm in the thick of it right now, and not for the first time. It's just a matter of waiting about five more days for my next visit with my psychiatrist. I ran out because I had missed a couple of previous appointments. I'm lucky enough to have my wonderful mom to take care of me during this, and the earlier times. My heart goes out to those of you dealing with this alone. You can do it, it's just so hard. When I'm in the midst of this experience, the following doesn't bring me that much solace, but in case it helps others:

Remember that this state is temporary. What you are handling right now is temporary. This is not the real you, this is not how you will feel from now on. Whether you get back on your meds or not, this is temporary either way. Don't forget that.

 

I've got to get this drug out of my life. It's just not worth it anymore.

Hang in there, everybody.

I started effexor at 37.5mg and immediately noticed I was becoming less anxious but more and more depressed. I told my doctor how I was feeling and he told me to stop the effexor cold turkey since I was on the lowest dose and I was only on it for 2 weeks. Well let me tell you since I stopped, even only being on it for a shirt time, I'm having bad withdrawal. I am extremely dizzy, sweating and then the shakes, diarrhea, vision problems and constant movement in my ears. I have been going through this for a little less than a week. I can't imagine what people who were on high doses for a long period of time are going through.

Hi everyone, reading posts here sure helped me a lot! Hang in there everyone!

My doctor switched my meds from Zoloft to Effexor because the previous wasn't fulfilling its duty as an antidepressant even in its maximum dose. I have depression since childhood but started the meds only at 25 after therapy. At first it seemed ok but them it seemed the Effexor made me more obsessed with things. I don't know if it's a sideffect or what but after 8 month I decided to quit slowly because it seemed I would drive myself crazy with repetitive thoughts. I had expericiend minimun withdrawl effects one time I stopped Zoloft but nothing like the past few weeks.The first week after the withdrawl was awful, dizzyness, the brain zaps and nausea were all day long with me. I'm taking the omega 3 capsules and trying to exercitate, talk to my boyfriend and close friends and spend time with my dog because it seems the first thing you want to do is crawl to your bed and stay there in the dark. Now it's been almost 3 weeks and I'm taking less than 37,5. The brain zaps are disappearing but I feel I sad and like I could cry at any moment but at least it's nice to know that I'm not the only one. I hope to stay of the meds for a while to see what happens and wish all the best for everyone who's having a hard time out there because of the meds. From what I see here it's possible to quit but if it gets unbearable look for help from friends, family and doctors, it's ok if you have to go back to it or to switch for some other drug for the moment.

Good Luck. I am a guinea pig veteran, unknowingly. I began effexor 10 years ago on the SCAMP program. Symptons since then: cluster headaches lasting 3 weeks w/ little break between episodes, hand & body shakes, night sweats, hyperactivity, very very low sex drive. Symptoms if dose is missed - brain squirt & pulses non-stop; 1 week cold turkey insanity & suicidal thoughts. The high pitch ring in my ears never goes away. I have been on 150/day 10 years and have tried soooo many times to reduce w/o luck. Thank GOD there is some disability for fried brain.

I stopped taking effexor xr 3-4wks ago. The brain zaps, dizziness, and nausea are getting better. I am still very emotional though. I get upset very easily and cry over everything. I have noticed I have been gaining weight quickly though. Effexor made me lose weight or possibly just made me stop emotionally eating. I find I can't get into a car without getting extremely car sick. Anyone else notice this? Bonus- the extreme night sweats stopped for me as soon as I stopped taking it. No more changing the sheets everyday! Also, just curious if anyone is finding an approximate time of when their emotions start to level out. Thanks for the forum. Nice to know I'm not alone.

Hi there! So, it's been a process of almost two months for me now. The nausea I had for the first two weeks I was decreasing or not taking the dose has stopped. I am still very emotional but it seems to be getting better the last 10 days or so. I also gain a little weight (like 3kg) but nothing that I can't lose if I exercice properly. I'm still taking omega 3 capsules and sometimes I take melatonin to help me sleep. The awful nightmares I was having stopped and became regular dreams now.

I have been on Effexor for 5yrs plus. I was taking Tamoxifen during my breast cancer treatment. I was not handling the depression and mood swings that went along with taking Tamoxifen. I completed my treatment with the Tamoxifen and was ready to get off this last drug. I have tapered off from 75mg to 37.5mg ( had a half full bottle left to use for this) to nothing.

Reading all the blogs terrified me about the prospects of Effexor withdrawal, but I am done being on meds. It is tough. I have had hot flashes, cold flashes, bad headaches, light sensitivity, naussea, light headedness, brain shivers.

One MAJOR thing that has helped is going to the gym. 30mins. on the elpictical machine. I'm so light sensitive that I just close my eyes and hold onto the hand holds. I find it relaxes me. I know, sounds crazy but I shut my eyes and listen to the eliptical, find a easy rhythm and 30 mins flys by. Sweating out those toxins!

Second MAJOR thing is take a supplement that is a detox. I am taking a supplement that is a liver detox. Whatever I can due to purge my body of this chemical I will do.

Third MAJOR thing is find a natural heath food store or a natural health food guru to help you find supplements. DO YOUR RESEARCH! The RoadBack web site sells supplements to help with Effexor withdrawal but read the contains.  Most of the supplements in the blends they sell can be bought at a Natural Food store. Can save tons of $$$ knowing what the contents are and buying the specific supplement!

Lastly, DON'T GIVE UP! I have more good moments than bad. In the good moments I feel like the person I was before the cancer and meds ONLY BETTER & WISER! I feel younger, more focused, more energy and more hopeful!

I have my MD Anderson appt. this week. Don't know how they will react to me taking myself off the Effexor and I REALLY DON'T CARE. Now it is my turn to take control of my health. If someone gets pissy with me I will politely remind them that NO ONE told me about withdrawal from this drug. Wish I had known...my big regret now.

Hang in there fellow peeps!

 

 

I have been on 75 mg for 5 years. My doctor suggested that I need to taper off due to blood pressure problems. This is a living nightmare. All I do is walk and cry. I do not sleep. I am dizzy, chills, body aches, foggy, and probably much more. I decreased my dosage to 27.5 mg a week and a half ago. I feel mentally and emotionally horrible. I started the Omega pills and a multivitamin 5 days ago. Still not seeing much help. I will tell anyone DO NOT ever let a dr. put you on this stuff. I just want this to go away.