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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by beatrix on July 4, 2003, at 11:29:54
I know a lot has already been posted here on this subject, but I just want to add my own experience. I have been taking only 37.5 mg. of Effexor for about a year now. Though that's a tiny dose, I have huge withdrawal symptoms from missing even one day--brain zaps, mood swings, dizziness, dopiness. Because of the withdrawal issues and sexual deadening, I have been trying to get off Effexor for several weeks now, with my doctor's support. I'm weaning off by opening the capsule and removing a few grains at a time, gradually removing more every few days. I am down now to about 40 percent of a capsule as a daily dose, or only 15 mgs./day, but when I tried skipping a dose yesterday to see what happened, back came the full withdrawal syndrome--vivid dreams, brain zaps, moodiness, rapid pulse, everything. I took a 40-percent dose today and the symptoms are already ebbing away. I am wondering if I will be able to get off it entirely in the end!!
For this drug to have this kind of addictive power at such a tiny dose is terrifying. I never, never would have started on it if I had known this would happen. My non-medical opinion is that NOBODY should take this drug unless you are sure that nothing else will work for you. My husband is an ER nurse and every couple of weeks he sees a patient who is in the throes of terrible withdrawal symptoms after missing a couple of Effexor doses. Please be careful with this treacherous drug!
Posted by Penny on July 4, 2003, at 11:59:39
In reply to Effexor withdrawal, posted by beatrix on July 4, 2003, at 11:29:54
Not to make you feel worse, but I still had withdrawal symptoms from Effexor for a month after stopping the drug altogether. Not fun, as I remember.
Good luck.
Posted by crazychickuk on July 4, 2003, at 12:20:39
In reply to Effexor withdrawal, posted by beatrix on July 4, 2003, at 11:29:54
Same thing happened to me with the brain zaps it is terrifying i was taking it for depression then it gave me anxiety i had to stop it col turkey as i didnt understand what was happeneing to me that was 3 yrs ago and i am still suffering NOW nothing has sorted me out as of yet tryed every single ssri and nothhing now doc wants me to start on another drug like effexor affects the nor it is called reboxatine i am terrifed of taing it..
Posted by theo on July 4, 2003, at 14:46:44
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal » beatrix, posted by Penny on July 4, 2003, at 11:59:39
Withdrawal factors also depend on how high of a dosage you were up to . Was your max dosage higher than 37.5mg. I was up to 75mg max of Effexor XR for a while and weaning to me wasn't worse than Paxil or others for me.
Posted by beatrix on July 4, 2003, at 15:18:45
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal » Penny, posted by theo on July 4, 2003, at 14:46:44
no, my max dosage was 37.5. I took twice that much exactly once right after I started, hated the way it made me feel, and backed right back down again. That was more than a year ago.
I have eased off other antidepressants--Prozac, Celexa--with no trouble at all. This is a different animal altogether.
Posted by linkadge on July 4, 2003, at 15:29:26
In reply to Effexor withdrawal, posted by beatrix on July 4, 2003, at 11:29:54
Continue with your withdrawl regime. Basically the idea is that your body will adjust as long as it has sufficiant time.
Linkadge
Posted by theo on July 4, 2003, at 15:46:22
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal, posted by beatrix on July 4, 2003, at 15:18:45
I guess I just got lucky, as they say "one mans trash, another mans treasure.
Posted by Penny on July 4, 2003, at 20:38:21
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal » Penny, posted by theo on July 4, 2003, at 14:46:44
> Withdrawal factors also depend on how high of a dosage you were up to . Was your max dosage higher than 37.5mg. I was up to 75mg max of Effexor XR for a while and weaning to me wasn't worse than Paxil or others for me.
I was on 225mgs Effexor XR. Naturally - a high dose. Seems to be my experience...
Posted by jlo820 on July 4, 2003, at 23:17:38
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal » theo, posted by Penny on July 4, 2003, at 20:38:21
I switched from 300 mg of Effexor a day to 10 mg of Lexapro with almost no withdrawal symptoms. It only took me about two weeks to get off the Effexor. I went from 300mg in the morning, to 150 in the morning and evening, to just 150 in the morning, to 150 every other morning, the off completely. I guess I got lucky.
Posted by Snoozy on July 5, 2003, at 2:04:35
In reply to Effexor withdrawal, posted by beatrix on July 4, 2003, at 11:29:54
I had a terrible withdrawl experience with Effexor. I wasn't warned about tapering, and I just stopped it cold turkey.
I've heard of using low doses of Prozac to help with Effexor withdrawl - because of the long half-life (of Prozac). And as you noted, you didn't have problems coming off of it. Might be worth looking into.
Very interesting that your husband sees Effexor withdrawl in the ER every few weeks. I wish after all these years there would be greater knowledge about withdrawl :(
I hope you're able to find something that helps you get through this. Good luck.
Posted by KimberlyDi on July 7, 2003, at 12:56:21
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal » beatrix, posted by Snoozy on July 5, 2003, at 2:04:35
I imagine they keep it quiet because of bad publicity, the power of suggestion, or the fact the evidence is based on *basket-cases* like us! That was said jokingly! I went off Effexor once and had less W/D than when I quit Paxil. I'm still curious to see if the W/D is on Effex Reg or Effex XR (or both). I hear it mainly from the XR's but XR is prescribed the most now.
Kim
> I had a terrible withdrawl experience with Effexor. I wasn't warned about tapering, and I just stopped it cold turkey.
>
> I've heard of using low doses of Prozac to help with Effexor withdrawl - because of the long half-life (of Prozac). And as you noted, you didn't have problems coming off of it. Might be worth looking into.
>
> Very interesting that your husband sees Effexor withdrawl in the ER every few weeks. I wish after all these years there would be greater knowledge about withdrawl :(
>
> I hope you're able to find something that helps you get through this. Good luck.
Posted by theo on July 7, 2003, at 15:16:29
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal, posted by KimberlyDi on July 7, 2003, at 12:56:21
Same here. Paxil was much more intense for me. I think people get so worked up when they read ANYTHING negative versus positive things. And of course if you're just taking a starter dose I'm sure the withdrawal is much easier than if you were taking a higher dose.
This is the end of the thread.
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